Moving to another computer is a good moment to discover whether your saved links exist anywhere outside your browser. Firefox offers two useful routes: an HTML export for moving bookmarks, and a Firefox bookmark backup for restoring a saved set. Choosing the right one matters because restoring a backup can replace the bookmarks you currently have.
Scope: current Firefox desktop on Windows, macOS and Linux, using Mozilla’s English desktop instructions. Menu wording may differ by release. Difficulty: beginner. Time: about 5–10 minutes. You need access to the correct Firefox profile and a folder where you can save files. No terminal commands or new account are needed. This guide covers bookmarks, not passwords, open tabs or a complete browser migration.
Pick the format before clicking
Use HTML export when you want a portable list for another browser or computer. Use Backup when you want a Firefox bookmark snapshot. Mozilla describes JSON/JSONLZ4 backups as Firefox restore files; they are different from HTML exports. Keep the extension created by the chosen command rather than renaming a JSON file to HTML.
For an ordinary move, start with HTML. A useful plan is to save the export, inspect it, copy it to your destination and import it once. Leave the old browser alone until you have checked the new one. This gives you a clear stopping point if the destination does not look right.
1. Check that you have the right bookmarks
Open Firefox and inspect several bookmarks you recognize, including one saved recently and one inside a folder. If you use more than one Firefox profile or computer account, check the collection you intend to move. Exporting the wrong collection successfully is still the wrong result.
Choose a local destination you can find again. An example name is firefox-bookmarks-2026-10-25.html; this is a filename you choose, not a command. Use a date that helps you distinguish this copy from an older export. Treat the file as private: saved links can reveal work projects, internal addresses or personal interests even when they contain no passwords.
2. Export the HTML file
Open Firefox’s menu, choose Bookmarks → Manage bookmarks, then use Import and Backup → Export Bookmarks to HTML… in the Library window. Choose your destination and save. Mozilla lists bookmarks.html as the default name. Close the Library when you are finished.
Find the saved file in your file manager and check its name, extension and modified date. Open your own export in a browser to inspect the list. Look for the recent bookmark and folder you identified earlier. This is a practical spot-check, not proof that every saved link is still live or that every destination browser will display the collection identically.
3. Move and import it once
Copy the checked HTML file to the destination computer using a method appropriate for its contents. Keep the source copy until the move is complete. If you use cloud storage, avoid public sharing links; you only need access for yourself on the destination.
Before importing into a collection you already use, save a backup of its current bookmarks. In Firefox on the destination, open the Library again and choose Import and Backup → Import Bookmarks from HTML…, then select the exported file. Mozilla says HTML imports are added to existing bookmarks. This differs from restoring a Firefox backup, which overwrites the current bookmark set.
If you are moving to another browser, use that browser’s bookmark-import option for an HTML file and follow its current official instructions. This guide does not promise identical folder placement in every browser. After importing, inspect the collection before repeating the operation: a second import can leave you with another set to sort out.
4. Verify the destination
Find the same recent bookmark and nested folder on the destination. Open a few familiar, trusted links and confirm that the titles and destinations are the ones you intended to move. A link requiring a workplace login may still need that login; importing a bookmark does not transfer access to the service.
If the toolbar looks empty, first check the Library or bookmark manager. A hidden toolbar is different from a failed import. Mozilla’s export guide includes instructions for making Firefox’s Bookmarks Toolbar visible. Avoid assuming that a missing row below the address bar means the entire collection disappeared.
Keep the original export and the source browser until you are satisfied. If you accidentally imported the wrong collection, inspect which folders were added before deleting anything. Do not erase all destination bookmarks just to remove an unwanted import, especially if that browser already had useful links.
When you need a Firefox backup instead
In the Library, select All Bookmarks and choose Import and Backup → Backup… to save a manual bookmark backup. Retain the current collection before attempting any restore. Mozilla explicitly warns that Restore overwrites the current bookmark set with the selected backup; it is not the same merge operation as importing HTML.
To restore intentionally, Mozilla documents Import and Backup → Restore → Choose File… for a saved manual backup. Check the selected file and the consequence before confirming. If your goal is only to add old links alongside new ones, use a suitable HTML import rather than reaching for Restore first.
A safe recovery plan begins before the replacement: save the destination’s current bookmarks separately and keep both files labeled clearly. If a restore produces the wrong result, that current-set backup gives you a recovery option. Verify the collection after any recovery and stop making further changes until you understand what is present.
Common mistakes worth catching
The importer rejects the file: check whether you exported HTML or saved a Firefox backup. Use the matching operation; changing the extension does not convert the contents. Bookmarks seem outdated: check the source profile, export date and destination filename. Folders appear twice: pause and inspect whether you imported more than once before trying another import.
Mobile instructions look different: this is a desktop file workflow. Mozilla directs mobile users toward Firefox Sync rather than this export procedure. Do not create a new account merely to follow the desktop steps here. If you choose synchronization separately, understand what data you are syncing and keep an independent copy of important bookmarks.
Keep a useful copy
Store the checked export somewhere you can recover if the computer fails. If Firefox itself is misbehaving, our Troubleshoot Mode guide covers diagnosis; moving or replacing bookmarks is not a general browser repair.
Sources
Mozilla documentation: export bookmarks to HTML, import an HTML file, and bookmark backups and restoration.
Optional gear
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Samsung BAR Plus 128GB USB-A flash drive on Amazon (paid link). An optional destination for a separate copy of your bookmark export. Check that your device has a compatible USB-A port.
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You do not need to buy anything to follow this article. Check the exact model, seller and compatibility before buying.
