Import Chrome Bookmarks & Passwords into Brave

Moving from Chrome to Brave doesn’t mean losing your bookmarks or saved passwords. This guide walks you through importing both, so your favorites and login credentials appear in Brave exactly as they were in Chrome.

What You’ll Need

A computer with Chrome installed and your bookmarks/passwords saved in it.
Brave Browser installed and updated to the latest version.
Your Windows, macOS, or Linux login credentials (to access saved passwords if prompted).

Step-by-Step

Open Brave Browser. Launch Brave from your desktop or Start menu. Make sure you’re on the latest version by clicking the menu (three horizontal lines) > About Brave and letting it update if needed.
Open the Import Settings. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner, then select Bookmarks > Import Bookmarks and Settings. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+O (Mac) to open the Bookmark Manager, then click the three-dot menu and choose Import Bookmarks and Settings.
Choose Chrome as the source. In the Import dialog, select Chrome from the drop-down list. If you have multiple Chrome profiles, pick the one that contains the data you want.
Select what to import. Check the boxes for Favorites/Bookmarks and Saved Passwords. You can also import history, search engines, and autofill data if you wish, but they’re optional.
Click Import. Click the blue Import button. Brave will read the data from Chrome’s profile folder. This usually takes a few seconds.
Confirm the import. After the process finishes, you’ll see a confirmation message. Click Done.
Verify bookmarks. Press Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+B (Mac) to show the bookmarks bar. Your imported bookmarks should appear in a folder named Imported or From Chrome.
Verify passwords. Go to Brave Settings by clicking the menu > Settings, then navigate to Passwords (under Privacy and Security). You should see your imported passwords listed. You may need to enter your computer’s password to view them.

Common Mistakes

Not closing Chrome first: If Chrome is running, Brave might not be able to read its profile files. Close Chrome completely before importing.
Selecting the wrong Chrome profile: If you have multiple Chrome profiles, choose the one that actually contains your bookmarks and passwords.
Only importing bookmarks: The import dialog defaults to bookmarks; you must explicitly check the Saved Passwords box.
Expecting live sync: The import is a one-time copy. If you add new bookmarks in Chrome later, they won’t appear in Brave unless you import again or set up sync.
Ignoring the “Imported� folder: Imported bookmarks are placed in a folder, not merged with your existing ones. You may need to reorganize them manually.

Tips

Use Brave Sync for ongoing sync: If you plan to use both browsers, consider setting up Brave Sync with a sync code. This keeps bookmarks and passwords synchronized across devices and browsers (via the Brave Sync chain).
Clean up after import: After importing, review your bookmarks and passwords. Remove any duplicates or outdated entries.
Export Chrome data as a backup: Before importing, you can export bookmarks from Chrome as an HTML file (Bookmark Manager > three-dot menu > Export bookmarks). This serves as a backup and can be imported into Brave manually if needed.
Check for password mismatches: Sometimes passwords may not import if Chrome has them encrypted with a different key. If a password is missing, re-enter it manually in Brave.

Troubleshooting

Chrome is not listed as a source: Make sure Chrome is installed and you have a valid profile. If you’re using a Chromium-based browser (like Edge), select it instead. If Chrome is installed but not listed, restart Brave.
Import button is grayed out: Ensure you have selected at least one item to import. If the button remains grayed out, close the dialog and reopen it.
Bookmarks don’t appear after import: Check the Bookmarks bar or the Bookmarks Manager (Ctrl+Shift+O). Look for an Imported folder at the bottom of the sidebar. If missing, try importing again with Chrome closed.
Passwords didn’t import: Passwords may fail if Chrome’s password encryption is tied to your Windows/Mac login. Close Chrome, restart Brave, and try again. If that fails, manually export passwords from Chrome (via chrome://settings/passwords > three-dot menu > Export) and import them into Brave using a password manager like Bitwarden or LastPass.
Error message “Import failed�: This often happens when Chrome’s profile is locked. Ensure Chrome is fully closed (check the system tray for background processes). If the issue persists, restart your computer and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will importing passwords from Chrome work on all operating systems?

Yes, the import feature works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The steps are identical, though the menu shortcuts may differ slightly.

Can I import bookmarks and passwords from Chrome without closing Chrome?

It’s recommended to close Chrome. If Chrome is running, Brave may not be able to access its profile files, causing the import to fail or miss data.

Will my imported passwords be saved in Brave’s password manager?

Yes, imported passwords are stored in Brave’s built-in password manager, accessible via Settings > Passwords. They are encrypted and protected by your Brave login (if enabled).

What if I have multiple Chrome profiles?

In the import dialog, you can select which Chrome profile to import from. Choose the one that contains the bookmarks and passwords you want.

Can I import bookmarks and passwords from a Chrome backup file instead?

Yes, you can import bookmarks from an HTML file via Bookmarks Manager > three-dot menu > Import bookmarks. For passwords, there’s no direct file import; you’d need a password manager.

Will importing affect my Chrome data?

No, importing copies data from Chrome to Brave. Your Chrome bookmarks and passwords remain unchanged.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →