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Backup and Restore Microsoft Edge Favorites in Windows 10

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Backup and Restore Microsoft Edge Favorites in Windows 10

To back up and restore Microsoft Edge favorites in Windows 10, you can copy the “Bookmarks” file from the Edge profile folder in File Explorer, and later paste it back to restore. This method works for both the legacy Edge (EdgeHTML) and the current Chromium-based Edge, though the folder paths differ slightly.

Why You Need a Manual Backup

Edge does not offer a one-click “Export to File” button for favorites in the same way Internet Explorer did. While you can sync favorites to a Microsoft account, syncing is not a backup—if you accidentally delete a favorite, the deletion syncs across all devices. A manual backup via File Explorer gives you a static copy you control, which you can store on an external drive, network location, or cloud folder.

Where Edge Stores Favorites on Disk

Both versions of Edge store favorites in a single JSON file named Bookmarks. The file lives inside a profile folder under your user directory. The exact path depends on which Edge you use:

  • Chromium Edge (current version, 2020 and later): C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Bookmarks
  • Legacy Edge (EdgeHTML, Windows 10 1803–2004): C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default\Bookmarks

Note that AppData is hidden by default. To see it, open File Explorer, click the View tab, and check the Hidden items box. In the legacy path, the package name includes a long alphanumeric string—this is normal and identical on every Windows 10 installation.

How to Back Up Favorites Manually

Follow these steps to copy your favorites to a safe location:

  1. Close Microsoft Edge completely. If it is running, right-click the Edge icon in the taskbar and select Close window, or use Task Manager to ensure no Edge processes remain.
  2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the appropriate path above, replacing [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username.
  3. Locate the file named Bookmarks (no extension).
  4. Right-click the file and select Copy.
  5. Go to your backup destination—for example, a USB drive, an external hard disk, or a folder in OneDrive/Dropbox.
  6. Right-click and select Paste. You can rename the file to something like EdgeFavoritesBackup_2025-01-15 to keep track of versions.

This single file contains all your favorites, including folder structure and the order of items. It does not include browsing history, passwords, or open tabs—those are stored in separate files.

How to Restore Favorites from the Backup

Restoring is essentially the reverse of backing up. You replace the current Bookmarks file with your backup copy. Here is the process:

  1. Close Edge completely.
  2. In File Explorer, go to the same profile folder where the current Bookmarks file resides.
  3. If you want to keep the current favorites, rename the existing file to Bookmarks.old rather than deleting it.
  4. Copy your backup file into this folder.
  5. Rename the copied file to exactly Bookmarks (if it has a different name).
  6. Open Edge. Your favorites should appear exactly as they were when you made the backup.

If Edge is open during the copy, it may overwrite your restored file with the in-memory version when you close it. Always close Edge first, and if you accidentally open it before restoring, close it again before proceeding.

Using Edge’s Built-In Export and Import

While there is no direct “export favorites” button in Edge’s settings, you can use the import function to bring favorites from a file that was exported from another browser. For example, you can export favorites from Chrome as an HTML file, then in Edge go to Settings > Profiles > Import browser data > Import from HTML file. However, this only imports, it does not export. To create an HTML export, you would need to use a third-party tool or copy the Bookmarks file as described above.

Another built-in option is to enable sync with a Microsoft account. This keeps favorites in the cloud, but again, it is not a backup you control. If you accidentally delete a favorite, it is deleted everywhere. A manual file copy remains the most reliable method for a point-in-time snapshot.

Common Problems and Fixes

Several issues can arise when manually backing up or restoring favorites:

  • Cannot find AppData folder: Enable hidden items in File Explorer’s View tab, or type %localappdata% into the address bar and press Enter—this jumps directly to your local AppData folder.
  • File is locked or in use: Edge may still be running in the background. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), look for any Microsoft Edge processes, select them and choose End task.
  • Restored favorites do not appear: Check that the file is named exactly Bookmarks (no .txt or .json extension). Also verify you placed it in the correct profile folder—if you have multiple profiles, each has its own Bookmarks file under a different subfolder.
  • Favorites disappear after reopening Edge: This usually means Edge was open when you replaced the file. Close Edge, replace the file again, and reopen.
  • Backup file is empty or corrupt: The Bookmarks file is plain text in JSON format. If you open it and see {} or very little content, you may have copied the wrong file or Edge created a new empty one. Always back up after adding a few test favorites to verify the file size is reasonable.

Automating Regular Backups

If you want to back up favorites on a schedule, you can create a simple batch file that copies the Bookmarks file to a backup folder. For example, create a text file with the following content and save it as backup_edge_favorites.bat:

@echo off
copy /Y "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Bookmarks" "D:\EdgeBackups\Bookmarks_%DATE:~-4%%DATE:~4,2%%DATE:~7,2%.bak"

Then use Task Scheduler to run this batch file daily or weekly. This gives you a rolling set of dated backups. Adjust the source and destination paths to match your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bookmarks file also contain passwords or history?

No. The Bookmarks file only stores favorite URLs, folder names, and the order of items. Passwords, autofill data, and browsing history are stored in separate files (like Login Data and History) in the same profile folder. If you need to back those up too, you must copy those files separately.

Can I restore favorites on a different computer?

Yes, as long as you copy the Bookmarks file to the same profile path on the new computer. The file is not tied to a specific machine. However, if the new computer runs a different version of Edge (e.g., legacy vs. Chromium), the file format may not be compatible. Stick to the same Edge version for a seamless restore.

What if I have multiple Edge profiles?

Each profile has its own subfolder under User Data (e.g., Profile 1, Profile 2). The default profile is Default. You need to back up the Bookmarks file from each profile folder separately if you want to preserve all of them.

Is there a way to export favorites to an HTML file directly?

Not through Edge’s built-in settings. The only HTML export option is via the import/export feature in other browsers, or by using a third-party tool. The most reliable method is copying the Bookmarks file as described.

Will restoring the Bookmarks file also restore the order of my favorites?

Yes. The file stores the exact order, including nested folders. When you replace the current file with your backup, the order and structure are restored exactly as they were at the time of the backup.

Does syncing with a Microsoft account interfere with manual restore?

If you have sync enabled, Edge may overwrite your restored file with the synced version from the cloud. To avoid this, temporarily turn off sync in Edge settings before restoring, then turn it back on after the restore is complete and you have verified the favorites.

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