How to Export Bookmarks from Safari

Safari exports bookmarks as a standard HTML file that works with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and any other browser that supports bookmark import. On a Mac, you export from Safari's File menu. On iPhone and iPad running iOS 18.2 or later, you can export directly from Settings.

Export bookmarks from Safari on Mac

1. Open Safari.
2. Click File in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select Export Bookmarks.
4. Choose a location and file name. Safari defaults to Safari Bookmarks.html.
5. Click Save.

That is all it takes. The HTML file now contains every bookmark and folder from Safari.

Common mistake: The export option is under File, not under Safari > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS). If you are digging through the Settings window, you will not find it there.

Export bookmarks from Safari on iPhone or iPad

iOS 18.2 or later (native export)

Starting with iOS 18.2 (released late 2024), Safari on iPhone and iPad can export bookmarks without a Mac.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap Apps.
3. Tap Safari.
4. Tap Export.
5. Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Safari creates a .zip file in your Downloads folder containing an HTML bookmarks file. Unzip it to get the HTML file. From there you can transfer it to a computer via AirDrop, email, or a cloud drive and import it into any browser.

Older iOS versions (before 18.2)

If your device runs iOS 18.1 or earlier, Safari does not have a built-in export option. The workaround is to sync your bookmarks to a Mac through iCloud, then export from Safari on the Mac.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
2. Tap Show All under Apps Using iCloud, then make sure Safari is turned on.
3. On your Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
4. Make sure Safari is enabled there too.
5. Wait a few minutes for the sync to finish.

Once your iPhone or iPad bookmarks appear in Safari on the Mac, follow the Mac export steps above.

If you do not have a Mac, you will need a third-party tool or a friend with a Mac to complete the export.

What the exported file contains

Safari's HTML export includes:

• All bookmark URLs and titles
• Your complete folder structure
• Add dates for each bookmark
• Your Reading List (exported as a folder of bookmarks)

It does not include:

• Offline Reading List content. The Reading List folder in the export file contains only the URLs. The saved offline copies of those pages stay in Safari.
• Favicons. The export file does not embed site icons. When you import into another browser, icons will reload as you visit each site.
• Tab Groups. These are separate from bookmarks and not part of any export.
• iCloud Tabs. Tabs open on other Apple devices are not bookmarks and are not exported.

Reading List vs. bookmarks

Safari treats the Reading List and bookmarks as separate features, but the HTML export lumps them together. Your Reading List items will appear inside a "Reading List" folder in the exported file.

When you import this file into another browser, those Reading List items become regular bookmarks. If you do not want them, you have two options:

• Before exporting: Remove items from your Reading List in Safari first. Open the sidebar, switch to the Reading List tab, and delete anything you do not want to carry over.
• After importing: Delete the "Reading List" folder from the destination browser after import.

Importing the exported file into Chrome

Once you have the HTML file, importing into Chrome takes less than a minute.

1. Open Chrome.
2. Open Bookmark Manager (Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Option+B on macOS).
3. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
4. Select Import bookmarks.
5. Choose the Safari HTML file.

Chrome creates an Imported folder on your bookmarks bar containing the Safari bookmarks and their folder structure.

For the full walkthrough with post-import cleanup steps, see How to Import Bookmarks from Safari to Chrome.

Importing into other browsers

The HTML file Safari creates is the same standard format used by all major browsers. You can import it into Firefox, Edge, Brave, or any browser that has a bookmark import option. Look for "Import bookmarks from HTML" in the target browser's bookmark manager or settings. For details on what the HTML file contains and what it does not, see What Gets Exported When You Export Chrome Bookmarks (the format is the same across browsers).

Keep your bookmarks protected after the switch

Before importing, back up any existing Chrome bookmarks so you have a restore point if the import creates duplicates or unwanted folders.

If you are exporting from Safari because you are moving to Chrome, this is a good time to set up ongoing protection. TrueBookmark keeps automatic versioned backups of your Chrome bookmarks, so you do not have to manually export every time you want a safety net.