How to Back Up Edge Favorites
Export your favorites to a portable HTML file and keep a copy off your computer so a reset never loses them
The simplest reliable way to back up Microsoft Edge favorites is to export them to an HTML file and store that file somewhere off your computer. It takes under a minute, the file works as both a backup and a way to move favorites to another browser, and it does not depend on sync being on. Here is the full routine.
Export your favorites to an HTML file
- Open Edge and press
Ctrl+Shift+Oto open the Favorites pane. - Click the three-dot More options button at the top of that pane.
- Choose Export favorites.
- Pick a location to save the file. Edge suggests a name like
favorites_2026_6_17.html, which conveniently includes the date. - Click Save.
You now have a single HTML file containing every favorite and folder. Any major browser can import it, which is what makes this the most flexible kind of backup.
Store the copy somewhere independent
A backup is only as good as where you keep it. A file sitting in your Downloads folder disappears with the machine it lives on. Move the export somewhere separate:
- A cloud-synced folder, so it survives a dead drive.
- An external drive or USB stick.
- A second computer or an email to yourself.
Refresh the export whenever you add a batch of favorites you would not want to lose. Putting a reminder on the calendar every month or two keeps it from slipping.
Know where the live file lives
If you ever need the raw data, Edge keeps favorites in a JSON file named Bookmarks (no extension) in its user data
folder, with a single previous copy in Bookmarks.bak beside it.
| OS | Bookmarks file path |
|---|---|
| Windows | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Bookmarks |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft Edge/Default/Bookmarks |
This file is part of Edge's working data and changes constantly, so the HTML export is the better thing to back up. The
Bookmarks.bak file is worth knowing about for emergencies, but it only ever holds one previous version, so it is not a
substitute for your own export.
Understand what sync does and does not do
If you sign in to Edge and turn on sync, your favorites stay consistent across every device on the same account. That protects you if one device fails. It does not protect you from yourself: delete a favorite on one device and sync removes it everywhere, including the copy you might have hoped to fall back on.
That is the gap an HTML export fills. Sync keeps things current; the export gives you a fixed point in time you can return to.
How to restore from your backup
Bringing favorites back is the mirror of exporting:
- Open Edge and press
Ctrl+Shift+Oto open the Favorites pane. - Click the three-dot More options button and choose Import favorites.
- Choose Favorites or bookmarks HTML file.
- Select your saved HTML file and confirm.
Edge merges the favorites from the file into your current collection. If you imported into an empty profile, you are back to where you were; if you imported into an existing one, watch for duplicates.
A note for Chrome users
These steps are for Edge, which is built on the same engine as Chrome but has its own menus. If you also keep favorites in Chrome, the Chrome backup guide covers the equivalent steps there. TrueBookmark is a Chrome extension that backs up your bookmarks on the Chrome side when you install it, on demand in one click, and automatically before any risky change, so the favorites you keep in Chrome are not riding on a single manual export you have to remember to run.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up my Microsoft Edge favorites?
Open the Favorites pane with Ctrl+Shift+O, click the three-dot More options button, and choose Export favorites. Edge saves a single HTML file you can store anywhere and import back later or into another browser.
Where does Edge store the favorites file?
Edge keeps favorites in a file named Bookmarks inside its user data folder. On Windows that is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Bookmarks, with a Bookmarks.bak copy of the previous version beside it.
Does signing in to Edge count as a backup?
Sync keeps favorites consistent across devices signed in to the same account, which protects against one device failing. It is not the same as an independent backup, because deleting a favorite removes it everywhere. Keep an HTML export as well.
How do I restore Edge favorites from a backup?
Open the Favorites pane with Ctrl+Shift+O, click the three-dot More options button, choose Import favorites, pick Favorites or bookmarks HTML file, and select your saved file. Edge adds the favorites back into your collection.
When TrueBookmark helps
Native Chrome steps are the fastest way to finish the task once. TrueBookmark is the better fit when you want Backup, Restore, Find, or Organize to stay reliable over time.
Related guides
How to Back Up Firefox Bookmarks
How to back up Firefox bookmarks using the Export to HTML option, the built-in JSON backup, and the automatic bookmarkbackups folder, with steps for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
How to Transfer Chrome Bookmarks to a New Computer
How to transfer Chrome bookmarks to a new computer using Chrome Sync, HTML export and import, or direct file copy. Covers what to do when the old and new machines use different Google accounts.
How to Export Bookmarks from Chrome
How to export Chrome bookmarks to an HTML file, what the export includes, what it leaves out, and when exporting is the right move.
How to Back Up Chrome Bookmarks Automatically
How to back up Chrome bookmarks automatically, why Chrome Sync is not a backup, and the options that keep versioned copies without you remembering to export.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is provided without warranty of any kind, express or implied. Browser steps may change between versions. Always back up your bookmarks before making changes. By following these instructions, you accept full responsibility for the outcome.