How do you back up your Safari bookmarks on a Mac before you lose them?

By Kayabyte · Last updated 11 November 2026

Short answer: in Safari on a Mac, Apple’s current steps (checked 11 November 2026) are File, Export Browsing Data to File, then choose bookmarks and click Download. The result is saved as a .zip file. Do it before a Mac migration, an iCloud change or a big clean-up, and store the file somewhere safe. Note that Apple says the exported data is not encrypted.

Step 1: Export from Safari

Apple’s page “Export Safari data to another browser in Safari on Mac” gives these steps:

Open Safari on your Mac.
Choose File, then Export Browsing Data to File.
Select bookmarks as the data to export. If you use profiles, pick the profile or All Profiles. Apple says bookmarks are shared across all profiles.
Click Download.
Enter a file name, choose a save location and click Save.

Apple lists history and passwords as exportable too. Its page does not mention the Reading List, so we cannot confirm it is included. Check the file before you rely on it. Older macOS versions have a different menu (File, Export, Bookmarks), which we did not verify on Apple’s pages here.

Step 2: Protect the file

Apple warns the exported data is not encrypted. Keep it somewhere private, and delete it when you no longer need it, especially if you included passwords.

Step 3: Add a backup you can query later

An export is a snapshot from the day you made it. Time Machine and Finder backups of the iPhone also hold older states of Safari, which helps if you notice a loss weeks later. See what Time Machine keeps for Notes, Contacts, Safari, Calendar, Reminders and Voice Memos.

If bookmarks are already gone

Try iCloud.com Data Recovery first, then older copies. See how to recover deleted Safari bookmarks on a Mac, iPhone or iPad.

A faster way if it is too late: NoteRescue

NoteRescue is a Mac app we make. It reads Time Machine snapshots and iPhone or iPad backups (encrypted ones too) and lists the Safari bookmarks that are missing compared with today. You choose which ones to bring back, and it writes an HTML file that Safari imports without touching your existing bookmarks. The scan is free and read only.

Open NoteRescue, allow Full Disk Access and press Scan.
Open the Safari row, filter to Missing and select the bookmarks.
Choose a folder and recover. NoteRescue writes a bookmarks HTML file.
Import it into Safari from the File menu.

Safari is USD 14.99 once, or All apps USD 39.99, with one free proof item. macOS 15 or later, Mac only, offline, no account. Download NoteRescue

What to know

NoteRescue needs a backup that still holds the bookmark. One created and deleted between two backups cannot be recovered.
Reading List items come back as ordinary bookmarks and tab groups as bookmark folders.
iCloud may sync an old state back over what you restore.

Questions

Does exporting change my bookmarks? No, it makes a copy.

Is the export file safe to email? Apple says it is not encrypted, so avoid sending it, particularly if it contains passwords.

Is the Reading List in the export? Apple’s page does not mention it. We could not confirm it.

Apple, Mac, Safari, iPhone, iPad, iCloud, Time Machine and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. NoteRescue is made by Kayabyte and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.