The Google Chrome browser, with its minimalistic design and simplified interface, is distinguished by great functionality and wide capabilities. For example, when working with a web browser, you can use the “Autofill” function, the essence of which is that the browser remembers your login information (login and password) on certain sites and enters them automatically in the future when authorizing. This saves your effort and time when working on the Internet, and also allows you to log into the site even if you have forgotten your password.
But what if you changed your device and, accordingly, installed a new Google Chrome? In this situation, is it possible to save all the autofill settings and transfer them to another computer or smartphone? Let's look at how we can solve this problem.
Where are bookmarks located in Google Chrome?
Google Chrome browser bookmarks are located as a Bookmarks in the following location:
C:\Users\Your user folder\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
Please note that the AppData folder is hidden and not visible by default.
If you go to the specified address, you will be able to:
- Delete bookmarks file so that after restarting the Google Chrome browser there will be no bookmarks left.
- Copy the bookmarks file and paste it to a similar address on another device to use previously saved bookmarks on several devices at once (though without synchronizing between them).
How to open hidden folders and files in Windows 10?
If you don’t see the AppData folder in your user folder and don’t know how to find it.
Transferring data to other Chromium browsers
Importing into Chromium browsers, with the exception of Edge, is slightly different as they lack the ability to load from an HTML file. For example, in Slimjet, one of the lightweight alternatives, the Google Smarts feature allows you to directly import data using the "Enable Sync" option. This requires access to a Google account. The same feature is available in the SRWare Iron browser.
How to copy (export) bookmarks from Google Chrome?
- Below the browser's close button, look for three dots lined up vertically. Click on them to go to settings and management of the Google Chrome browser.
- Hover your mouse over the “Bookmarks” and click on “Bookmark Manager” .
Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + O
To go directly to Bookmark Manager without having to visit the Settings menu.
- A page will open with all the user’s saved bookmarks.
- Find the three dots lined up vertically on the right side of the blue bookmark ribbon and click on them.
- “Export bookmarks” in the drop-down menu .
- “Save” window will open .
- Select the location where your Google Chrome browser bookmarks will be copied.
- Click the “Save” .
Transfer methods
The easiest way to transfer bookmarks and passwords from Google Chrome is synchronization. It requires a minimum of effort and gives maximum results.
Some browsers have a forward migration mechanism. For example, Yandex.Browser can directly import data from Chrome.
You can also transfer data using a file with saved passwords. First, this file is downloaded from Chrome (exported), copied to a flash drive, and then imported to a new location - on another computer.
Synchronization between browsers
Synchronization with a Google account allows you to save individual settings on all devices from which you use this account. Now, when working with Google Chrome on another computer, your passwords will not be lost.
Thanks to synchronization, the following parameters will be saved:
- Site login details.
- Favorite sites (bookmarks).
- Individual settings.
- Browsing history.
This feature provides maximum convenience when browsing the Internet. So, you can click on a specific link in the browser on your computer, and then immediately access it by opening the application on your smartphone. Synchronization allows you to work from multiple devices that have your Google account. To activate this feature, you must complete the following steps:
- Launch the browser from which you want to transfer data.
- Click on the icon with your profile avatar (on the top right panel).
- Click "Enable Sync". If you were not logged in, Google will ask you to log into your account.
Enabling Google Chrome synchronization
When the confirmation window appears - “Enable synchronization?” – don’t rush to press OK. You might be interested in first taking a look at the settings, where you can choose what to synchronize and what not. For example:
- passwords;
- tabs;
- bookmarks;
- reading list;
- addresses;
- Payment Methods.
When you enable synchronization on the second PC, all selected elements will be copied there.
You can manage synchronized elements through: three dots – “Settings” – “Me and Google” – “Synchronization of Google services” – “Manage data for synchronization”.
Importing a Password File
Before importing passwords to another PC, you need to export them from the current Chrome. To do this, it provides the “Export Passwords” function, which exports data to password files in CSV (Comma Separated Values) format. It lists the names of sites, their addresses, and logins with passwords that relate to them, separated by commas.
Through “Export Passwords” you can transfer only authorization data and nothing more: no bookmarks, no browser history.
To download passwords from Chrome:
- Click on the user’s avatar in the upper right corner;
- Click on the key icon and go to the “Passwords” section in this way;
- Opposite “Saved Passwords” there are three dots;
- Click on them and select “Export passwords”.
Remember where you save your passwords - the path to this file will then need to be specified when importing.
During the export, you may have noticed that there is no import button next to the export. This is because it is not visible by default. To make it visible, you need to go here: chrome://flags/#PasswordImport, check the Enabled checkbox and restart the browser by clicking the big blue Relaunch button.
After that, we follow the familiar path: “Passwords” - “Saved Passwords” - three dots. And click “Import” there.
Password import in Google Chrome
How to import bookmarks into Google Chrome?
- Below the browser's close button, look for three dots lined up vertically. Click on them to go to settings and management of the Google Chrome browser.
- Hover your mouse over the “Bookmarks” and click on “Import bookmarks and settings” .
- A new tab will open with the function of importing bookmarks and settings. You can also open it by copying this text chrome://settings/importData and pasting it into the address bar of your browser.
- On the page, select where bookmarks will be imported from.
- If you have third-party browsers installed on your device, Google Chrome will offer to import bookmarks from there. For example, importing bookmarks from Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox browsers is supported.
- If you previously copied (exported) bookmarks, you can select the “HTML file with bookmarks” .
- If you select “HTML file with bookmarks,” you will need to click the “Select file” .
- Find the previously copied bookmarks, click the “Open” , and then the “Done” .
Did our instructions help you find, copy and import bookmarks?
Tell us in the comments
