How to export your browser bookmarks and import them into an app
Last updated: 2026-08-22
Every major browser exports bookmarks in the same format — a Netscape HTML file. Here is how to produce one in each browser, and what happens to your folders when you import it elsewhere.
The one format they all share
Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge all export to the same thing: a "Netscape bookmark file", which is an HTML document with nested lists. It dates back to Netscape Navigator and it is the reason a bookmarks file from Safari opens fine in Chrome.
Your folder hierarchy is preserved inside that nesting, so a well-built importer can rebuild your folders as categories rather than flattening everything.
Exporting from each browser
Chrome: open the three-dot menu, then Bookmarks and lists, then Bookmark manager. In the bookmark manager, open its own three-dot menu and choose Export bookmarks.
Firefox: open the menu, then Bookmarks, then Manage bookmarks to open the Library window. Under Import and Backup, choose Export Bookmarks to HTML.
Safari: from the menu bar choose File, then Export, then Bookmarks.
Edge: open the three-dot menu, then Favorites, then the three-dot menu inside that panel, then Export favorites.
All four produce a single .html file. Save it somewhere you can reach from your phone — a cloud drive folder is usually easiest.
Importing it, and what to expect
In Linki, open Settings, choose Import, and pick the HTML file. Folders come across as categories and the nesting is preserved rather than flattened.
Expect some dead links. A bookmarks file that has been carried between browsers for years usually contains a meaningful number of URLs that no longer resolve. It is worth cleaning the file before importing rather than after.
Duplicates are the other common problem, especially if you have merged bookmarks between browsers before. The same page saved twice under different folders will import twice.
Frequently asked questions
Do my bookmark folders survive the import?
They should. The Netscape HTML format stores folders as nested lists, and Linki maps that nesting to categories and subcategories. Some simpler importers do flatten everything, so it is worth checking.
Can I export bookmarks from my phone?
Usually not directly. Mobile browsers generally do not offer an export option, so the practical route is to export from the desktop version of the same browser while signed into the same account, then move the file to your phone.
What if my bookmarks file is huge?
Large files are fine, but expect the import to take a moment and expect a higher share of dead links. Cleaning duplicates and broken URLs before importing saves you from tidying inside the app afterwards.
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