How to Export Bookmarks from Chrome: HTML, Selected Folders, and JSON
To save all your Chrome bookmarks, use Bookmark Manager’s built-in export option to download an HTML file. If you need only particular folders or links, or want JSON for data use, Export Bookmarks Chrome offers those choices through Bookmark Llama. The steps below help you choose the right route and check the file you save.
Export all Chrome bookmarks to an HTML file
Chrome’s built-in export is the fastest way to create a full, browser-importable backup. It saves your bookmark collection as a single HTML file and preserves folders and subfolders.
- Open Chrome on your desktop.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Go to Bookmarks and lists > Bookmark manager. On some Chrome versions, the label may be Bookmarks > Bookmark manager. You can also open
chrome://bookmarks/in the address bar or use Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows/Linux. - Inside Bookmark Manager, click the three-dot menu in the manager’s top-right corner. This is separate from the browser’s main menu.
- Select Export bookmarks.
- Choose a save location, give the file a clear name, and click Save.
The downloaded file is HTML in the common bookmark-import format. It includes bookmark titles, URLs, and the folder structure you created, along with the date each bookmark was added. It does not include saved passwords, browsing history, or last-visited timestamps.
A key limitation: Chrome’s built-in Export bookmarks command exports the full bookmark collection. It does not give you a direct control to export one folder, selected folders, or only specific links. If you need that level of control, use a selective export method instead.
Export selected folders or links instead
If you only want part of your bookmark collection, Chrome’s built-in route is not the most direct option. One manual workaround is to create a temporary Chrome profile, move just the folder you want into it, and export from that profile. That works, but it is cumbersome for repeated or mixed exports.
A simpler route is to use an extension such as Export Bookmarks Chrome. The extension is designed for selective bookmark export rather than all-or-nothing output. You can choose:
- all bookmarks,
- a single bookmark folder,
- selected folders, or
- only specific links.
The workflow is selection-based. If you have a long bookmark collection, search for the folders or links you need, then choose the items to include and review the preview that shows what will be exported. After the selection looks right, choose your output format and download the result. The extension can also import an existing bookmark dump and re-export it, which is useful when you need to clean up or reformat bookmarks from another browser.
This selective route is separate from Chrome’s native controls. Chrome still exports the full set through Bookmark Manager; the extension adds the ability to filter, preview, and limit the export. The developer states that the extension processes bookmarks locally in the browser and does not upload bookmark data to its servers.
Choose HTML or JSON
Which format you need depends on what you plan to do with the file.
| Format | Best when you need to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HTML | Import bookmarks back into Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or another browser that supports bookmark HTML imports. | Preserves folder structure. This is the format Chrome’s built-in export produces. |
| JSON | Back up bookmark data or work with the bookmarks programmatically. | A structured data format. JSON is not the same as Chrome’s built-in HTML export and should not be renamed to .html as a browser-import file. |
Use Chrome’s built-in export when you want the full collection as HTML. Use the extension’s HTML option when you want a browser-importable file for a chosen subset. Choose JSON when you need the bookmark data for backup, analysis, transformation, or another data use.
Check the export before relying on it
A few small checks reduce the chance of saving the wrong set or losing track of the file.
- Use a descriptive filename. Include a date and, if relevant, the bookmark set or Chrome profile. For example:
chrome-bookmarks-work-YYYY-MM-DD.html. - Choose a save location you’ll remember. A dedicated folder such as Documents or a browser-backups folder is easier to find later than a cluttered desktop or Downloads folder.
- Review a selective export before downloading. Confirm that the intended folders or links appear in the preview, especially if you searched or selected multiple items.
- Confirm the saved file exists and has the expected format. For HTML imports, use the target browser’s bookmark import option and check where the imported bookmarks land. In Chrome, imported bookmarks may appear in an imported folder or similar location.
- Keep a backup copy if the export is your safety net. Store the file somewhere you can find again, and consider keeping a second copy in another location for important bookmark sets.
Conclusion
For a straightforward backup of all your Chrome bookmarks, open Bookmark Manager, choose Export bookmarks, and save the HTML file. If you need just certain folders or links, or want JSON for data use, choose a selective export such as Export Bookmarks Chrome and review the selection before downloading. Whatever route you use, confirm the saved file is the right format and keep it somewhere you can find when you need it.