Back Up Bookmarks in Edge: Export and Save Them

Exporting bookmarks gives you a portable backup you can keep separately from Edge. You can use it to restore favorites after moving to another computer, reinstalling a browser, or accidentally deleting items. Before you start, make sure Edge is open and decide where you will save the exported file. Edge’s menu labels or layout may differ slightly by version.

What You’ll Need

A computer with Microsoft Edge and the bookmarks you want to save.
A folder you can locate easily, such as Documents, for the exported HTML file.
For a backup that survives a computer problem, an external drive or a trusted cloud storage folder.

You do not need a separate bookmark-export program. Edge includes an export option. If you use multiple Edge profiles, confirm which profile contains the favorites you intend to back up.

Step-by-Step

Open the correct Edge profile. Launch Edge and check the profile icon near the top of the window. If you have more than one profile, switch to the one whose bookmarks you want to preserve. Favorites can be separate between profiles, so exporting from the wrong one may produce an incomplete or unexpected backup.
Open Favorites. Select the star-shaped Favorites button in the toolbar. If you do not see it, open the Settings and more menu (three dots) and choose Favorites. Depending on the version and window layout, you may also be able to open Favorites with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows or Command+Shift+O on Mac.
Go to the favorites manager. In the Favorites panel, select the three-dot menu and choose an option such as Manage favorites. The wording and placement may vary slightly by Edge version. The manager shows your favorites and folders in a view where you can manage the collection.
Choose Export favorites. In the manager, select its three-dot menu, then choose Export favorites. If you do not see the option in the panel, check the manager’s own menu rather than the browser’s main menu. Edge will open a save dialog for the export.
Pick a clear location and name. Save the file in a folder you can find, and keep the suggested .html file extension. Use a descriptive name such as Edge-favorites-backup.html. If the save dialog offers a date field or you want to distinguish backups, add the date to the filename; do not rename the extension to something else.
Confirm that the file exists. Open the folder you selected and check that the HTML file is present. Its size should not be zero. You can double-click it to see whether it opens as a page of bookmark links, but do not rely on that visual check alone to prove every link works.
Make a second copy away from the computer. Copy the file to an external drive or a trusted cloud folder. A file saved only on the same computer may be lost if that device or its storage fails. Keep the original export as well until you have verified the second copy.
Repeat for other profiles if needed. Switch profiles and export each profile’s favorites separately. Give each file a name that identifies its profile, so you will know which one to import later.

The exported HTML file is a snapshot of your favorites at the time of export. If you add, remove, or reorganize bookmarks afterward, export again to keep the backup current. Exporting does not remove favorites from Edge.

Common Mistakes

Saving only on the computer: A backup in Downloads or Documents is convenient, but it is still vulnerable to problems affecting the whole device. Keep another copy in a separate location.
Using the wrong profile: Edge profiles may have different favorites. Check the profile before exporting and label backups clearly.
Assuming sync is the same as a file backup: Sync can keep favorites available across devices signed in to the same account, but it is not a standalone file you control. An exported HTML file provides a separate copy.
Overwriting the only backup: Before replacing an older export, make sure the new file was created and opens. Keeping a previous copy temporarily gives you a fallback.
Changing or dropping the extension: Keep the .html extension so Edge and other browsers can recognize the export during import.

Tips

Export after a substantial cleanup or whenever you have added important favorites.
Use a consistent filename that includes the browser profile and a date, so multiple copies are easy to identify.
Keep the file in a private location if your favorites reveal personal interests or account-related pages. The HTML export contains bookmark titles and addresses, though not saved passwords.
If you plan to restore bookmarks, remember where you stored the file and which profile it belongs to. Test the import in the intended profile rather than importing into every profile by default.
For additional protection, keep more than one copy in separate locations and replace older copies only after checking the newest export.

Troubleshooting

Export favorites is missing: Open the Favorites manager and check its three-dot menu. Make sure you are not looking only at the browser’s main menu. If the layout differs, update your understanding of the current menu by checking Edge’s built-in help or Microsoft Support; menu placement can change between versions.

The file is not where you expected: Check the destination shown in the save dialog, then look in Downloads or the browser’s default download location. Search your computer for the filename or for files ending in .html. Export again if necessary, choosing a folder you can access.

The export appears empty or incomplete: Return to Edge and confirm the active profile and the favorites shown in its manager. Export again from the correct profile. If you use folders, the export should include the favorites collection, but verify the file before relying on it.

You cannot save to the chosen folder: Choose a folder where your account has permission to save, such as Documents, then copy the completed file to your backup location. If an external drive is unavailable or read-only, reconnect it or use a different destination.

You need to restore the file: In Edge, open Favorites and its manager, then choose Import favorites from the manager’s menu. Select the option for a favorites or bookmarks HTML file, browse to your saved export, and confirm the import. Menu wording may vary slightly by version. Check the destination profile and folders afterward; importing may add links alongside existing favorites rather than replacing them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does exporting bookmarks delete them from Edge?

No. Export creates a copy in an HTML file and leaves the favorites in Edge unchanged.

Can I back up Edge bookmarks without signing in?

Yes. You can export favorites to an HTML file without signing in to a Microsoft account. Signing in is not required for a local export.

Does the backup include passwords or browsing history?

No. The favorites export contains bookmark links and related bookmark details, not saved passwords or your browsing history.

Can I use the exported file in another browser?

Most major browsers can import bookmarks from an HTML file, though the menu names differ. Use the destination browser’s import option and select the saved file.

How often should I make a new backup?

Export again whenever you make changes you would not want to lose. If your favorites change often, make backups regularly and keep a separate copy off the computer.

Can I restore just one bookmark from the file?

You can open the HTML file in a browser and use the link you need, or import the file into Edge and locate the bookmark. Importing the full file may add many favorites, so check its contents first if you only need one.

Further reading: Microsoft Support. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.