Do you frequently use browser bookmarks to save important information? If so, you need to regularly back up and export this data if using another desktop or mobile device. Google Chrome allows you to easily export and import the bookmarks so that you will find this data neatly organized and ready to use in another device or browser.
Apart from its own browser, Chrome supports the transfer of bookmarks across other Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge. The various methods to import and export the bookmarks are covered below.
Also read: 11 Chrome Flags to Boost Your Browsing
Traditional Method to Export and Import Bookmarks in Chrome
The most traditional way to handle bookmarks in Chrome is to use the Bookmark Manager. It can be easily accessed from the three-dot menu on top.
Here you can see a list of all your Chrome bookmarks. Again, go to the three-dot menu on top and select “Export bookmarks.”
All the Chrome bookmarks will be saved on your PC or laptop as an HTML file. Save the HTML file in an easy-to-remember folder such as “Downloads.”
You can check the attributes of the HTML file from “Properties” for size limits. If the file isn’t too big, you can email it to yourself for restoring the bookmarks on another device. Otherwise, upload the file in a cloud storage service such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, or Dropbox.
Once you have reached the Chrome browser window of your destination PC, click the three-dot menu to select “Import bookmarks” this time.
The HTML file can be directly uploaded, and all your previous bookmarks will show under the Imported bookmarks. This is slightly inelegant, because if you are frequently exporting bookmarks, then the data can seem repetitive on your destination device. Therefore, we will discuss another efficient method of syncing a Google account. But first we will cover the Chrome bookmark management techniques for other Chromium browsers.
Importing Chrome Bookmarks in Microsoft Edge
To import Chrome bookmarks in the Microsoft Edge browser, go to Edge’s three-dot menu and select “Settings.”
Go to “Import browser data” to import the Chrome bookmarks. “Profile 1” will be for your Microsoft account, so it will not sync with Google.
Here you can select the items that can be imported from Google Chrome, including favorites and bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, and more.
From the drop-down menu, you can also select an option called “favorites or bookmarks HTML file.” This will be the HTML file that you originally created while saving Chrome bookmarks.
The Chrome bookmarks’ HTML file can easily be imported and adjusted into Edge browser bookmark items.
Import Chrome Bookmarks in Other Chromium Browsers
The techniques for other Chromium browsers apart from Edge are slightly different. They may not have a feature to import HTML files. For example, with Slimjet, one of the popular lightweight Chrome alternatives, a feature called “Google Smarts” allows the Chrome bookmarks and other information to be directly imported using a “Turn on Sync” feature. This requires your Google account.
Another popular Chrome fork, SRWare Iron, also has a Google Smarts feature to sync and personalize Google Chrome data including bookmarks.
Get Chrome Bookmarks on All Devices with Turn Sync On
To do so, open Chrome and select the “person” icon on the top right. Here you can add a persona to the Chrome profile and create a desktop shortcut for this profile. Give it a name.
In the next step, you will be asked to log in using your Gmail account to get access to your bookmarks, history, passwords, and other Google settings on any device.
When it asks if you’d like to “Turn on Sync,” click “Yes I’m in” to enable the syncing of Chrome data on .all devices.
Once done, your Chrome browser will start syncing the information. The bookmarks will now be automatically imported on any other device. Clearly, syncing is the most efficient, non-repetitive way to export and import bookmarks in Chrome.
You can further manage what you sync for better privacy of your data. For example, you may choose to not be signed in to Google while visiting websites. If you care more about your privacy on Chrome, check these tips.
Image Credit: Everbody CHROMERCISE!
