How to Import Bookmarks and Other Browsing Data to Google Chrome

Switching browsers doesn't have to mean losing important info

Google apps 2018
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by Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera has been a tech journalist since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader and several Microsoft certifications.
Updated September 09, 2019

If you use the default Microsoft Windows web browser, Microsoft Edge, or any other browser, and want to switch to Google Chrome, it's easy to migrate your browsing data, including bookmarks.

Instructions in this article apply to Chrome versions 0.4.154 and later.

Import from Chrome

To import Chrome bookmarks that are archived in an HTML file:

  1. Open Chrome.

  2. Select the menu (three-dot) icon, then choose Bookmarks > Bookmark manager. Or, press Ctrl+Shift+O.

    Google Chrome with menu and submenu displayed

  3. On the Bookmarks page, select the menu (three-dot) icon, then choose Import Bookmarks.

    Google Chrome Bookmarks page

  4. Choose the HTML file and select Open. Chrome imports the contents of the file.

    Google Chrome Bookmarks import bookmarks function

  5. The imported bookmarks appear in the bookmark manager.

Import from Firefox or Edge

Chrome extracts bookmarks and other browsing data (like stored passwords and form data) directly from Firefox or Edge without using an import/export file. Here's how to make it work.

  1. Open Chrome and select the menu (three-dot) icon.

  2. Choose Settings.

    Google Chrome with main menu displayed

  3. In the People section, select Import bookmarks and settings.

    Google Chrome with Settings page displayed

  4. From the drop-down menu, select your browser and choose the items to import, such as browsing history, favorites, passwords, search engines, and form data.

    Google Chrome with import bookmarks and settings window displayed

  5. Select Import to begin the data transfer.

  6. A Success! message indicates the import process completed correctly.

    Google Chrome with import bookmarks and settings window displayed

  7. Select Done to close the window and return to Chrome.

  8. You'll find the imported bookmarks on the bookmarks bar in their respective folder, such as Imported From Edge.

Migrating From Other Browsers

If you migrate bookmarks from a less-popular browser, and it exports bookmarks to HTML, use that process to migrate the data to Chrome. Some niche Linux browsers, for example, support export-to-HTML capability.