To export Edge favorites, open Settings and more > Favorites > More options > Open favorites page (or go directly to edge://favorites/), open the three-dot menu, choose Export favorites, and save the HTML file. On the destination profile, use Settings and more > Settings > Profiles > Import browser data > Import, select Favorites or bookmarks HTML file, choose the file, and select Done. Exporting creates a copy; it does not remove favorites from the original computer.
What an Edge favorites HTML export contains
Microsoft Edge can turn the links and folder structure in a profile’s Favorites manager into one portable .html file. You can store that file as a backup, copy it to another computer, or import it into another Edge profile. The process is a one-time transfer: exporting does not establish a live connection between the two devices.
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The HTML file is limited to favorites (also called bookmarks). It is not a full Edge-profile backup. In particular, do not expect it to contain saved passwords, browsing history, extensions, open tabs, payment information, or other profile data. Microsoft documents password migration as a separate CSV-based workflow.
Before you start
- Use a desktop installation of Edge with the favorites you want to move. The menus and policy described here apply to the desktop browser.
- Know which Edge profile owns the favorites. If several profiles are present, switch to the correct profile before exporting or importing.
- Choose a temporary, secure location for the HTML file, such as an encrypted drive or a protected folder. Anyone who obtains the file can see the saved website addresses and folder names.
- If the destination is a work or school computer, an administrator may control import and export features through policy.
Menu labels can differ slightly by release channel, language, or device-management settings. If you cannot find a command, use Edge Settings search for import browser data and confirm that you are in the intended profile.
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How to export Edge favorites to an HTML file
Export from the Favorites manager, not from the general browser-history page. The following path is the documented desktop workflow.
- Open the Favorites manager. Select Settings and more (the three-dot button) in the upper-right corner, then choose Favorites, open More options, and select Open favorites page. You can also type
edge://favorites/in the address bar and press Enter. - Open the export command. In the Favorites manager, select its three-dot More options menu and choose Export favorites.
- Name and save the file. Select a destination that you can reach from the computer or profile where you will import it. Keep the
.htmlextension intact; changing it to another format can prevent Edge from recognizing the file. - Confirm that the file exists. Check the folder for the newly created HTML file and, if it is a valuable backup, copy it to a second protected location. Do not edit the file in a word processor, because formatting changes can damage its bookmark structure.
Exporting is non-destructive. The favorites remain in the source profile, including their folders and ordering, unless you separately delete or edit them.
How to import an HTML favorites file into Edge
Import into the profile that should receive the links. The source browser does not need to be installed on the destination computer; Edge only needs access to the saved HTML file.
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- Go to profile data import. In the Settings sidebar, select Profiles. Choose Import browser data.
- Start an import. Under Other import locations, select Import beside Import browser data now.
- Choose the file format. In Import from, select Favorites or bookmarks HTML file.
- Select the exported file. Choose Choose file, browse to the saved
.htmlfile, select it, and choose Open. - Finish the operation. Wait for Edge to process the file, then select Done.
Microsoft says imported favorites appear in a folder on the Favorites bar; the folder may be named Imported. Open that folder to verify the links before moving individual items into your preferred folders.
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Move favorites from one computer to another
Using a USB drive or local network
On the old computer, export the file using the procedure above. Copy the resulting HTML file to a USB drive, an encrypted network share, or another transfer method you trust. On the new computer, copy the file locally, open the destination Edge profile, and complete the import steps. Eject removable media safely after copying and delete temporary copies when they are no longer needed.
Using cloud storage
You can place the exported file in a cloud-storage folder that you control, then download it on the destination computer. Treat the file as sensitive browsing information: use an account with multi-factor authentication, avoid public links, and remove the shared copy after the migration if it is no longer required.
Moving between profiles on one computer
Export while the source profile is active. Switch to the destination profile, then import the file. Edge may create an Imported folder even when both profiles are on the same installation, so inspect the destination rather than assuming items were merged into existing folders.
HTML file transfer versus Edge Sync
Both methods move favorites, but they solve different problems. HTML is a discrete file you control; Sync is an account-based service that keeps selected data updated across signed-in devices.
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| Consideration | HTML export and import | Edge Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Connection model | One-time copy using a saved file; works offline after the file is available. | Ongoing synchronization through the same Microsoft account on each device. |
| Account requirement | No shared Microsoft account is required. You only need access to the file and the destination Edge profile. | Sign in to Edge with the same Microsoft account on the devices and enable favorites synchronization. |
| Update behavior | Later changes do not travel automatically. Export and import again when you need another snapshot. | Favorites changes can continue to propagate while Sync remains enabled; data types can be selected in Sync settings. |
| Organization after transfer | Imported items may be placed in an Imported folder, making the one-time batch visible for review. | Items are synchronized into the account’s existing favorites structure, so simultaneous edits can be harder to audit. |
| Best use | Offline backup, migration to a separate profile, or a controlled one-time handoff. | Keeping several of your own devices aligned over time. |
Enable Sync for an ongoing transfer
- Sign in to Edge with the Microsoft account you intend to use on every device.
- Open Profiles and select Sync.
- Turn on the favorites data toggle. Review the other data-type toggles and enable only what you want synchronized.
- Sign in to the same account on the second device and confirm that its Sync settings include favorites.
Sync is not a substitute for an independent backup. If a deletion or unwanted reorganization synchronizes, the same change can appear on every connected device. Keep occasional HTML exports if you need a recoverable snapshot.
What happens to existing favorites and folders?
Importing adds the links from the HTML file to the destination profile; it does not first clear that profile’s current favorites. Because Edge can place the batch in an Imported folder, you may see duplicate links when some of the same addresses already exist elsewhere.
Review the imported batch
- Open the Favorites bar and expand the Imported folder, if present.
- Open a few important links to confirm that they still resolve and that the address is current.
- Drag items into your established folders only after checking for duplicates.
- Use descriptive folder names and remove obsolete copies deliberately; do not delete the original source favorites until the destination has been verified.
Does exporting delete favorites from the old computer?
No. Exporting writes a separate HTML copy and leaves the source favorites in place. This non-destructive behavior is described in Microsoft Q&A guidance rather than the main import help page, so it is still sensible to verify the source profile before making any cleanup changes.
Deleting the exported file also does not delete favorites from Edge. The file and the browser’s stored favorites are separate. Conversely, deleting favorites in Edge does not erase an HTML backup that you have already saved elsewhere.
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What the HTML method does not migrate
Favorites HTML is intentionally narrow. It transfers bookmark entries and their folders, not credentials or the rest of the browser profile.
- Passwords: use Edge’s separate password-export and import workflow, which uses CSV handling. Never assume a favorites file contains login data.
- History and open tabs: these are separate data categories and are not represented by the favorites HTML structure.
- Extensions and settings: reinstall or configure them independently on the destination profile.
- Account-specific services: a favorite may open a site, but it does not transfer that site’s cookies, sessions, or account access.
Troubleshooting an unavailable or incomplete import
The Favorites manager is hard to find
Open edge://favorites/ directly. If that page is blocked or redirected, use Settings and more > Favorites > More options > Open favorites page. A managed-device policy or an outdated release can alter the visible menu.
“Import browser data” or the HTML option is missing
Use the Settings search box for import browser data, confirm that Edge is up to date, and check that you are in a desktop profile rather than a mobile app. Organization policies can hide or restrict import commands; contact the administrator if the setting is enforced.
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Edge rejects the file
- Confirm that you selected Favorites or bookmarks HTML file, not a password or another browser-data format.
- Make sure the file still ends in
.htmland was not modified by a text editor or office application. - Copy the file to the local computer before importing if it is on a disconnected drive or a network location with restricted permissions.
- Re-export from the source profile if the file is empty, truncated, or was interrupted during copying.
Only some links appear
Look inside every folder under Imported; nested folders may not be visible until expanded. If the source profile contained duplicate entries, they may look like missing items when they are actually grouped differently. Re-export after confirming the source Favorites manager shows the complete set.
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The import created duplicates
Keep the imported batch intact while you compare it with existing folders. Remove duplicates only after testing the preferred copy and preserving an HTML backup or the original source profile.
Enterprise and managed-device considerations
Microsoft documents the ImportFavorites enterprise policy for Edge on Windows and macOS version 77 or later. Android and iOS are listed as unsupported for that policy. A managed installation may therefore present different commands or enforce an administrator-selected import behavior. If a policy prevents the operation, an administrator must change the policy; reinstalling Edge generally will not override centralized management.
A safe migration checklist
- Switch to the profile that owns the source favorites.
- Open the Favorites manager and export an HTML file.
- Copy the file using a protected transfer method and keep one backup copy.
- Open the intended destination profile before importing.
- Import through Profiles > Import browser data > Other import locations > Import.
- Check the Favorites bar and the Imported folder for the expected folders and links.
- Open critical links, merge or deduplicate folders, and only then remove obsolete copies.
- Delete temporary transfer copies when your retention policy allows it.
For a single, controlled migration, the HTML route gives you a portable snapshot without altering the source. For devices that must remain aligned, enable Favorites Sync on the same Microsoft account and still retain periodic exports if recovery matters.
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