Google-chrome – Import Chrome bookmarks from previous installation

bookmarksgoogle-chromeimport

My Windows got corrupted and I had to reinstall. I had not synchronised Google Chrome, so I cannot get my previous bookmarks.

I have the previous bookmark file (which is in JSON format, not HTML) but cannot import it to my new Chrome installation. I have tried copying the bookmark file of previous installation and overwriting the new one, but even after that only newly bookmarked items are shown.

My question is as follows: can I import a JSON bookmarks file into Google Chrome?

Best Answer

Following procedure works:

  1. Turn off synchronization (Chrome menu > Signed in as > Disconnect your Google Account (do not forget to keep Chrome data saved on the computer)
  2. Close Chrome
  3. Replace Bookmark file in Chrome's User_Data folder with your own version
  4. Open Chrome
  5. Export your bookmarks as HTML (Chrome menu > Bookmarks > Bookmarks manager > Organize > Export bookmarks)

You end up with your Bookmark file converted to HTML. Then you can turn on synchronization (Chrome menu > Sign in to Chrome) and import your bookmarks from HTML file.

If you do not need to merge your old bookmarks with current bookmarks synchronized in your Google account, it is perfectly sufficient to do steps 1. to 4. and then just sign in to Chrome.

Related Question