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How to Save or Back Up Chrome Bookmarks to a File: HTML vs. JSON

Want a file you can keep as a copy of your Chrome bookmarks? Chrome’s Bookmark Manager can export your collection as an HTML file. If you want JSON, or need to include only particular folders or links, a chrome bookmark exporter offers those choices. This guide explains which format to choose and how to save the result.

How to save Chrome bookmarks to a file

The fastest built-in route is Chrome’s bookmark export. It creates an HTML file you can import back into Chrome or another browser that supports bookmark HTML imports.

  1. Open Chrome on your computer.
  2. Open the Bookmark Manager. You can press Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows/Linux or Cmd+Shift+O on Mac, or type chrome://bookmarks/ in the address bar.
  3. In the Bookmark Manager, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  4. Select Export bookmarks.
  5. Choose a save location and filename, then click Save.

Menu labels can vary slightly by Chrome version, but the export choice is normally inside the Bookmark Manager’s own three-dot menu rather than the main browser menu.

One important detail: Chrome’s built-in export saves the entire bookmark collection. The export dialog does not offer a checkbox to include only one folder or selected links. The saved HTML file can preserve your folders and organization, but the export itself is all-or-nothing.

Use a descriptive filename so the backup is easy to recognize later. Include the profile or purpose and the date, such as chrome-bookmarks-work-2026-07-09.html. After saving, confirm the file appears in the folder you selected.

HTML vs. JSON: which bookmark file should you choose?

The format matters because browser-import HTML and JSON are not interchangeable for every task.

Format Best for Typical import path
Browser-import HTML Restoring bookmarks into Chrome or moving them to Edge, Firefox, or other browsers with HTML import support Chrome’s Import bookmarks and settings flow, then choose a bookmarks HTML file
JSON Structured bookmark data for data handling or compatible tools Not Chrome’s usual bookmark HTML import route

Bookmark HTML is the practical choice when your goal is to import bookmarks back into Chrome or transfer them to another browser. The file uses a portable bookmark structure that carries titles, URLs, and folder hierarchy.

JSON is useful when you need structured bookmark data to process, inspect, or use in a tool that accepts JSON. However, do not assume a JSON bookmark file can be imported through Chrome’s standard HTML import flow. Chrome’s import dialog described here expects an HTML file.

Also set expectations clearly: a bookmark export is a bookmark backup, not a complete browser-profile backup. It does not include passwords, browsing history, open tabs, or other profile data.

Chrome’s native export is not designed to save just one folder or a handful of links. One workaround is to create a temporary Chrome profile, move the desired folder there, and export from that profile. Another is to manually edit the exported HTML. Both are more effort than many people want for a simple selective backup.

Export Bookmarks Chrome is built for this selective case. It can export bookmarks from Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or an imported bookmark file, and it lets you choose exactly what to include.

  1. Open the exporter from your browser toolbar.
  2. Choose Chrome as the bookmark source, or select an imported bookmark file if that is what you want to work from.
  3. Choose all bookmarks, a single bookmark folder, selected folders, or only specific links.
  4. If you have a large library, use the search option to find bookmarks before choosing what to include.
  5. Preview what will be included so the exported file does not contain unwanted links.
  6. Select the format: browser-import HTML for a file you can import back into a browser, or JSON for structured bookmark data.
  7. Download the result.

If you already have a bookmark dump rather than bookmarks currently living in Chrome, the exporter’s supplied capabilities include importing that bookmark dump and re-exporting it. That can help you turn an existing file into a cleaner or narrower export.

A selective export is most useful when you need to share one project folder, send a client a small set of links, or create a focused backup without carrying your entire bookmark library.

Store and check your backup

A saved file only works as a backup if you can find it later and know how to restore it.

Use this quick checklist after exporting:

  • Give the file a clear name with the date and profile or purpose.
  • Save it in a folder you will remember, ideally outside the active Chrome profile.
  • Keep a copy in another location, such as cloud storage or an external drive.
  • Open the folder after saving and confirm the HTML file is present.

To bring bookmarks back into Chrome later, open Chrome’s menu, go to Bookmarks and lists or Bookmarks, then choose Import bookmarks and settings. Select Bookmarks HTML file, choose your saved file, and confirm the import. Chrome typically adds the imported bookmarks as a separate imported folder rather than wiping out the existing library. After importing, review both the imported folder and your current bookmarks.

Be careful with repeated imports. Importing the same HTML file more than once can create duplicate bookmarks or duplicate folders. Check the destination before importing the same backup again, and remove or reorganize duplicates afterward if needed.

Conclusion

For a simple backup you can import back into Chrome, save an HTML bookmark file and keep it somewhere separate from the Chrome profile it came from. Choose JSON when you specifically need bookmark data in a structured format; Chrome’s usual bookmark-import flow expects HTML. If you need only some folders or links, use a selective exporter, review the selection, and download the format that fits your purpose.