How to export bookmarks in Safari on Mac: File menu steps for recent versions

People usually export Safari bookmarks for one of three reasons. They are switching to another browser, they want a backup copy, or they need to share a set of links. The steps are the same in each case. Read the sections that match your situation, then follow the numbered steps.

What the Bookmarks option exports

When you tick Bookmarks, Safari exports the saved sites and folders in its bookmark list. The same dialog offers History, Extensions, Credit cards and Passwords. Each one is its own tick box. For bookmarks alone, leave the others empty. Sensitive data only leaves Safari when you choose it.

Know what the zip file contains

The download is a .zip file, not a plain web page. Double-click it and macOS unpacks it into a folder. Inside, you should find Bookmarks.html. Apple's guide says the output is a .zip file. An Apple Community reply describes a zipped file with a Bookmarks file inside, and a third-party blog calls it a zipped Bookmarks.html. Those descriptions agree, so look for that name first.

Use the older File > Export > Bookmarks menu

Some Safari windows show a different File menu. If the menu has Export with Bookmarks under it, you are on the older path. Apple's support article for older devices describes File > Export > Bookmarks. It names the result Safari Bookmarks.html unless you change the name. That article does not list the Safari version where the menu changed.

A third-party blog says Apple rebuilt the tool in Safari 18.2, which shipped with macOS Sequoia 15.2. Treat that as a strong pointer, not a promise from Apple. The menu item itself is the better guide. If it says Export Browsing Data to File, use the newer flow, whatever version number you see.

Choose a profile before you export

Safari profiles keep separate groups of settings. If you use them, the export dialog asks you to pick one profile or All Profiles. Apple's guide also says bookmarks, credit cards and passwords are the same across profiles. Because of that, the choice may make no difference to your list. If you are unsure, choose All Profiles so nothing gets left out.

If you have not set up profiles yet, how to create a profile in Safari on Mac walks through the setup.

Protect the exported file

Apple is direct about this. Its guide says 'Your exported data is not encrypted and is visible to anyone who can access the files.' It also advises deleting the file after you import it into another browser. A bookmark list can reveal work tools, bank sites and medical sites, so treat it like any other private document.

Keep the file out of shared folders and synced drives that other people can open. Do not attach it to an email. If you want a backup, store it on a drive you control and encrypt that drive.

Import Safari bookmarks into another browser

Import steps differ by browser. Open the destination's bookmark or import menu and find its import option. When it asks for a file, point it at Bookmarks.html. If the file picker only shows the zip, unzip it first, then choose the HTML file.

One Apple Community thread about Chrome on macOS 14.5 shows a confusing result. The import message said 200+ bookmarks were added, yet no new Imported folder appeared in the sidebar. No fix was confirmed in that thread. If you see the same thing, search for a bookmark by its site name instead of hunting through folders.

Mistakes people make with this export

• Looking for Export Bookmarks on a newer Safari. The item now sits under Export Browsing Data to File.
• Trying ⌥⌘1 for the Bookmarks sidebar. Apple lists ⌃⌘1, with Control instead of Option.
• Forgetting to tick Bookmarks, then exporting only the extra data types you did not need.
• Leaving the zip on the Desktop. It stays unencrypted until you move or delete it.
• Skipping the spot check. Look for a few known bookmarks in the new browser before you delete anything.

Fix the 'Safari can't export your bookmarks' error

One Apple Community thread reports the message 'Safari can't export your bookmarks.' on Safari 12.0.1 under macOS 10.14. A community moderator suggested updating Safari. The thread did not confirm that the fix worked. The report comes from an old version, so start with an update, then try the export again from the current File menu.

Fix a missing Export Bookmarks item

The Apple Community user who reported a missing item saw no Export Bookmarks action under File. A reply said the option was renamed to Export Browsing Data to File in Safari 18.2, and that the result is a zipped file. Check that name first. If the new item is not there at all, the thread offers a workaround: quit Safari completely, restart the Mac, then try again.

Reinstalling macOS was also suggested as a last resort. That advice came from a community reply, not from Apple. Back up your Mac before you try anything that drastic.

Check the Bookmarks sidebar and its shortcut

You can check your bookmarks in Safari before you export. Apple's keyboard shortcuts page lists ⌃⌘1 as the shortcut to show or hide the Bookmarks sidebar. Use it to see what Safari holds. Apple's key reference names the modifiers as Command ⌘, Option ⌥, Control ⌃ and Shift ⇧. The usual mix-up is Option where Control belongs.

How Safari fits the desktop browser market

StatCounter put Safari at 7.83% of worldwide desktop browser share in October 2026. That figure is a monthly snapshot, and the page updates it over time. Use it as background, not as a reason to export or to stay put.

Which Safari version these steps cover

WhatIsMyBrowser lists Safari 27.0 as the latest stable version for macOS, with a release date of September 11, 2026. Other search results give a different date, which I did not verify. Safari has no web version, so these steps cover the Mac app only.

Check the export before you delete anything

Verify the export before you clean up. Open the new browser and look for one bookmark you use every day. Then open one from a folder you rarely visit. Finally, search for a site you know is saved. If all three work, the export did its job.

Watch for the Chrome problem described above. A folder that does not appear is not the same as a missing bookmark. Search by name before you assume the import failed, and check for duplicates if you run the import twice.

A worked example: moving from Safari to Chrome

Say you are moving from Safari to Chrome on the same Mac. Export from Safari first, with only the Bookmarks box ticked. Unzip the file and keep the HTML file somewhere you can find it. Open Chrome, find its import option, and point it at Bookmarks.html.

Keep Safari open while you work, so you can compare what each browser shows. Once the check passes, the old zip and the unpacked file are no longer needed. That is the moment to clean up.

What to do after the import

Delete the zip and the HTML file, then empty the Trash so the copies are gone. Keep one copy only if you want a backup, and store it somewhere private. Each tick box in the export dialog is its own data type, so check Extensions and Passwords separately if you moved them.

If you also want to clear history after switching, see how to clear browsing history in Safari on Mac. It explains what stays behind after a clear, which matters if other people use the Mac.