How to share bookmarks in Chrome
Chrome has no single "share this folder" button, but there are a few simple ways to get your bookmarks to someone else, or to yourself on another device. Here is each one, and when to use it.
By Yash Kapoor··7 min read
The short answer: Chrome has no built-in button to share a bookmark folder with another person. To share bookmarks in Chrome you either copy the links and send them, export all your bookmarks to a file the other person imports, or add a shared-bookmarks extension that keeps a folder in sync between people. To reach your own bookmarks on another device, you use sync instead.
That covers both things people mean by "sharing." One is sending links to someone else. The other is getting your own bookmarks onto a second computer or phone. The methods are different, so this guide walks through each and says plainly when to use it.
Copy and send the links (fastest for a few)
If you only want to share a handful of bookmarks, do not export anything. Just copy them.
- Open the Bookmark Manager with Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows) or Cmd+Option+B (Mac).
- Click the first bookmark you want, then hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click each other one to select several at once.
- Right-click the selection and choose Copy.
- Paste into an email, a chat, or a doc. Chrome pastes the full web addresses.
That is it. The person on the other end clicks the links or saves them as their own bookmarks. This is the right method for "here are five articles you should read," not for handing over your whole library.
Share a whole folder: export bookmarks to a file
For a larger set, export your bookmarks to an HTML file and send that. The other person imports it into their own Chrome in a few clicks.
- Open the Bookmark Manager (Ctrl+Shift+O).
- Click the three-dot menu in the top right and choose Export bookmarks.
- Chrome saves an HTML file with every bookmark. Send that file however you like.
- The other person opens their Bookmark Manager, clicks the three-dot menu, chooses Import bookmarks, and picks your file.
One honest catch: Chrome cannot export a single folder on its own. The export always includes everything you have saved. If you only want to share one folder, the simplest fix is to move the folder's links into a fresh Chrome profile or a throwaway browser, export from there, and send that clean file. It is a little fiddly, but it beats handing someone your entire bookmark history.
Keep a shared folder in sync between people
The two methods above are one-time handoffs. Change a bookmark after you send it and the other person never sees the update. If you and a teammate or family member want a folder that stays the same for both of you, you need a shared-bookmarks extension.
These live in the Chrome Web Store. You install one, create a shared group, add the email addresses of the people you want in it, and everyone who joins sees the same folder. Add a link and it shows up for the whole group. Search the store for "shared bookmarks" or "team bookmarks" and check the reviews and permissions before you install, since anything that syncs your links can see them.
This is the only method that keeps a group genuinely in step. For a static list, the export file is simpler and needs no extra tool.
Share bookmarks online so you can reach them anywhere
Often "share bookmarks online" does not mean sharing with another person at all. It means getting your own bookmarks off one machine so you can open them from any device, at home or at work. That is sync, not sharing, and it is a different job.
The built-in way is Chrome sync: sign in with your Google account, turn on sync, and your bookmarks follow you to every device where you are signed in. If you move between different browsers, or you want your links laid out visibly instead of buried in a menu, a cross-browser manager handles it. Our guide on how to sync bookmarks across browsers and devices walks through every option, and the best free bookmark manager for Chrome compares the tools that store your bookmarks online.
We make one of these, Tabisto, a free new-tab extension that keeps your bookmarks on every new tab and syncs them across your own devices when you sign in. To be straight about it: Tabisto is built for your own devices, not for sharing a folder with other people. For that, use the export file or a shared-bookmarks extension above.
Which method should you use?
Match the method to what you are actually doing:
- A few links for one person. Copy and paste them. No tools, thirty seconds.
- Your whole collection, once. Export an HTML file and send it.
- A folder that stays in sync for a group. A shared-bookmarks extension.
- Your own bookmarks on another device. Chrome sync or a cross-browser manager.
Before you share a large set, it is worth a quick tidy so you are not passing on dead links and duplicates. Our walkthrough on how to organize your Chrome bookmarks is a fast way to clean house first.
Frequently asked questions
Can you share a bookmark folder in Chrome?
Not with a single button. Chrome has no native "share folder" feature, and its export always includes all your bookmarks, not one folder. To share just one folder, either copy that folder's links and send them, or move them into a clean profile and export from there. For an always-updated shared folder, use a shared-bookmarks extension.
How do I send my bookmarks to someone else?
For a few, select them in the Bookmark Manager (Ctrl+Shift+O), right-click, choose Copy, and paste them into an email or chat. For your whole set, use the three-dot menu to Export bookmarks to an HTML file and send that. The other person imports the file into their own Chrome.
Can I share bookmarks without exporting a file?
Yes. Copy and paste is the no-file method for a small number of links. For a folder that several people keep in sync, a shared-bookmarks extension from the Chrome Web Store avoids files entirely, since everyone sees the same live folder.
How do I share bookmarks between two Google accounts?
Sign in to the first account, export your bookmarks to an HTML file, then sign in to the second account and import that file. If both accounts are yours and you just want the same bookmarks on both, turning on Chrome sync on each is easier than moving a file back and forth.
Is it safe to use a shared-bookmarks extension?
It can be, if you pick a reputable one and check its permissions first. Any extension that syncs a shared folder can see the links in it, so read the reviews, look at what data it collects, and avoid ones that ask for more access than the job needs.