So, you’ve got a ton of bookmarks in Chrome, right? Some are super important, others you just plan to get to later. Losing them would be a bummer, for sure. Good thing is, it’s pretty simple to back them up. You can either do it directly through the browser or dig into the folder where they’re actually stored. Let’s jump in!
Where are Chrome Bookmarks Stored?
Whether you’re just curious or need to mess with the bookmark files directly, it’s not too hard to find them. Just keep in mind that the location depends on your operating system.
For Windows users, the bookmarks file hides in a specific spot. Before you go hunting, make sure Chrome is completely closed.
First, open “This PC” or “File Explorer.” Then, navigate to this directory:
C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
When you get to the “Users” folder, if there’s only one user account on your computer, no problem. Just open the folder that has your username. If there are multiple accounts, make sure you’re opening the correct one.
Now, inside your user folder, you might not see the “AppData” folder, since it’s usually hidden. To make it visible, go to the “View” tab at the top of File Explorer.
From the “Show” menu, click “Hidden items”. The AppData folder should now appear.
Quick tip: instead of navigating the long way, copy the path above, paste it into the “Quick Access” bar in File Explorer, replace [YourUserName] with your actual user folder name, and hit Enter.
Once you’re in the “User Data” folder, your next step depends on how many Chrome profiles you’ve got. If you just use one, look for the “Default” folder.
If you use multiple profiles, you might see folders like “Profile 1,” “Profile 2,” etc., along with “Default”. Open the folder that corresponds to the Chrome profile you’re interested in.
In the folder, you’ll find two files: “Bookmarks” and “Bookmarks.bak.” The .bak file is a backup.
You can now copy, modify, or delete these files. But be super careful about changing anything, as it’ll directly affect your bookmarks in the browser.
How to Back Up Chrome Bookmarks
Backing up your Chrome bookmarks is a breeze. The easiest way is directly through the browser.
Method 1: Exporting Bookmarks to an HTML File
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Click the three dots at the top right of the Chrome window.
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Hover over “Bookmarks,” then click “Bookmark manager.” You can also use the keyboard shortcut
Ctrl + Shift + Oto get there faster. -
In the Bookmark manager, click the three dots (organize icon) at the top-right.
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Select “Export bookmarks.”
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Choose a name and save location for the HTML file and click “Save”.
Your bookmarks are now saved as an HTML file which you can use to restore your bookmarks later on, or import them into other browsers or devices.
Method 2: Syncing Bookmarks with Your Google Account
If your goal is to use your bookmarks on other devices, syncing might be the best route to take. When you sync with your Google account, your bookmarks are accessible on any device where you’re logged in to Chrome using the same account. Changes on one device show up on all devices.
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Click your profile icon in the address bar.
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Click “Turn on sync” and then sign in to your Google account.
Once your account is linked, verify that bookmarks are set to sync. By default, everything is usually synced, but it’s good to double check, just in case.
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Go to “Settings” from the three-dot menu.
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Click “Sync and Google Services.”
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Click “Manage what you sync.”
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If “Sync everything” is selected, you’re all set. If “Customize sync” is selected, make sure the “Bookmarks” toggle is turned on.
If, for some reason, you can’t use either of these methods, but can access your hard drive, you can always use the bookmark files from the C: drive location we discussed to make a copy.