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To back up Chrome bookmarks without Sync, export them from the desktop Bookmark Manager as an HTML file. Keep the file somewhere you can find it, and save a second copy on separate storage if you want protection beyond the original computer. To restore it later, import that HTML file through Chrome’s bookmark import flow.

Export Chrome bookmarks to an HTML file

  1. In desktop Chrome, open More > Bookmarks and lists > Bookmark Manager.

  2. In Bookmark Manager, open More > Export Bookmarks.

  3. Choose a location and save the HTML file. Give it a recognizable name so you can identify it when restoring bookmarks.

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  4. For a backup that can survive losing access to the computer, keep another copy on separate storage. A USB drive is one option, but Chrome does not require special hardware to create the export.

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Google confirms that “Chrome exports your bookmarks as an HTML file.” Google Chrome Help: Import Chrome bookmarks & settings.

Restore bookmarks from the backup file

  1. In Chrome, open More > Bookmarks and lists > Import bookmarks and settings.

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  2. Select the saved HTML file and complete the import.

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  3. Check the bookmarks bar and its folders for the imported items. If Chrome already had bookmarks, Google says the import appears in a new Other bookmarks folder at the end of the bookmarks bar. If there were no existing bookmarks, imported items appear in the bookmarks bar.

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That destination difference can make a successful import easy to miss if you expect the restored items to merge into your existing folders.

What happens when you use Chrome without Sync

Bookmarks remain on the device when you sign out of Chrome; according to Google, they are not then saved in your Google Account. An exported HTML file is a separate, manually stored copy that you can move and import without relying on account-based cross-device access. See Google Chrome Help: Get your bookmarks, passwords, and more on all your devices.

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For bookmarks held in a Google Account, Google also offers a Chrome data export route that may include bookmarks. This is not guaranteed for every account: some work or school account data may not be available for download. Treat it as a conditional account-data option, not a replacement for exporting the local bookmarks file through Bookmark Manager. Google Chrome Help: Export your data from Chrome.

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