How to Quit a Web Browser (and Take Your Data With You)
Tired of Google Chrome data collection? Are you excited about the new AI features coming to Microsoft Edge ? Want to try out Firefox’s extensive library of add-ons? Or maybe you have a new Mac and Safari is an obvious choice due to its tight integration with the desktop operating system?
Whatever the reason you’re considering switching to a new browser, you shouldn’t let worries about leaving your existing browser data behind dissuade you. Most modern browsers now include simple tools for importing and exporting bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, extensions, and more.
Exactly how you do this will depend on the browser you’re navigating from and the browser you’re navigating to, but the steps are pretty simple regardless of the scenario. After making the switch, you may find that the grass is indeed greener on the other side, and you’ll take all your data with you.
In fact, it’s best to start with the browser you’re moving into, not the browser you’re leaving. For obvious reasons, these programs place more emphasis on import tools than on export tools.
Google Chrome
In Chrome for Windows, click the three dots in the top right corner of the browser interface, then select Bookmarks & Lists , then Import Bookmarks & Settings . In Chrome for macOS, you can find the import option there, as well as in the Google Chrome menu in the menu bar at the top.
In the next dialog box you will see, you will be able to select one of the other browsers on your system. When you switch between these options, the data you can import also changes, but typically you’ll see entries like Browsing History and Favorites/Bookmarks listed. Check all the types of data you want to move, then click Import .
From the browser selection menu, you can also select the HTML bookmarks file , if the browser you’re navigating through can export its bookmarks that way. Google Chrome itself can save bookmarks this way: tap the three dots to open the app menu, select Bookmarks & Lists and Bookmark Manager , then tap the three dots just below the browser toolbar and select Export Bookmarks .
Apple Safari
Go to Safari on macOS and you can open the File menu to find the Import from option. Once selected, you’ll see a list of other browsers on your computer that Safari can receive data from. Two other options: “HTML bookmark file” and “CSV password file ” can be used as alternative methods if necessary.
Once you select the browser you’re moving away from, you can select the types of data you want to transfer. This will vary depending on the browser, but you may see options such as Bookmarks , History , and Passwords listed. Once you’ve made your selection, click Import to begin the process.
Safari has several basic export tools that you can also use. Open the File menu, then choose Export , and you can choose Bookmarks (as an HTML file) and Passwords (as a CSV file), two formats that many other browsers can handle.
Mozilla Firefox
If you decide to switch to Firefox from another browser, click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the interface to go to the main menu, then select Settings and open the General tab. At the top you will see a button “Import data” . Click on it to view a list of browsers on the same computer from which you can import data.
By default, Firefox will navigate through all possible data, such as bookmarks, browsing history, and saved passwords, but you can instead select individual data types by clicking the small + (plus) icon on the right. Click “Import” to confirm your choice.
When it comes to data exports, things are a bit scattered: select Passwords from the main menu, for example, to export your login details (via the three dots in the top right corner). Select Bookmarks and Manage Bookmarks to export these lists using the Import and Backup button (two arrows next to each other) above your bookmark folders.
Microsoft Edge
Finally, we have import options in Microsoft Edge, which you can access by clicking on the three dots (top right) to open the main menu and then selecting “Import browser data” from the Profiles tab. Next, you need to select the browser you want to import from: find it in the list, then click the Import button next to it.
Next, you can choose which types of data to import, and some of these lists can be quite long. For example, if you’re migrating from Chrome, which runs on the same code base as Edge, you can transfer bookmarks, passwords, payment information, browsing history, settings, extensions, and even the tabs you’re currently open. Click “Import” to confirm.
To export bookmarks and passwords, you need to go to these screens: Select Favorites from the main menu, and the export option is located behind the three dots at the top of the list. Select Settings from the main menu and then Profiles & Passwords . The export option can be found behind the three dots on the right (next to Add Password ).