Browser data can be just as important as your files. However, it does not live in your Documents folder so backing it up might not be straightforward at times. Often times each browser has its own way of storing and exporting its data. Most browsers have two ways to export data, depending on your needs you can decide what method to use.

From Google Chrome you can either export only your bookmarks, or back up your entire profile. Exporting your entire profile is more complicated, but will also allow you to back up your extensions, preferences, history, and passwords.

The easiest and safest way to back up your Chrome data is to sign in to Chrome.

When you sign in to Chrome, your browser settings are synchronized to your Google Account so that they can be accessed from any device you own.

Follow these steps to sign in:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
3. Select Sign in to Chrome.
4. Sign in to your Google Account in the dialog that appears.
   1. You may use your LSHS email account, or a personal Google Account.
5. In the “Confirm sync settings” dialog that appears, choose what you want to sync.
   • Sync everything: Click the “OK, sync everything” button.
   • Choose specific items to sync: Click “Advanced” and select “Choose what to sync” from the drop down menu. Select the checkboxes for the items you want to sync.
     • Apps from the Chrome Web Store
     • Autofill (except for credit card numbers)
     • Bookmarks
     • Extensions from the Chrome Web Store (except those containing plug-ins)
     • History
     • Passwords
     • Themes
     • Open tabs
     • Settings
6. Optional: Advanced encryption settings
   • By default, your passwords are encrypted with your Google Account credentials. You may choose to encrypt all your synced data with your own sync passphrase.
   • If you change your encryption method on one computer, you might receive a sync error notification on other computers where you’re syncing your data. Enter the new sync passphrase on other computers to resolve the error.
7. Click OK.

Chrome allows you to export your bookmarks to an HTML file. This is accomplished with the following steps:

1. In Chrome, click on the wrench icon at the top-right of the window.
2. Go to “Bookmarks”, then click on “Bookmark Manager”.
3. In the Bookmark Manager, click on “Organize”, then “Export Bookmarks to HTML File…”.
4. Choose the name and location to save your bookmark backup to and hit “Save”.
5. You have successfully backed up your bookmarks to an HTML file.

Chrome allows you to import your bookmarks from an HTML file you exported at a previous point in time. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In Chrome, click on the wrench icon at the top-right of the window.
2. Go to “Bookmarks”, then click on “Bookmark Manager”.
3. In the Bookmark Manager, click on “Organize”, then “Import Bookmarks from HTML File…”.
4. Find and select your bookmarks file, then click “Open”.
5. Chrome will add your bookmarks to a folder named “Imported. From here, you can use the Bookmark Manager to move your bookmarks from that folder if you like.

Firefox users can enable sync, or back up their bookmarks only. The easiest and safest way to back up your Firefox data is to set up Firefox Sync.

When you set up Firefox Sync on your computer, all of your data and preferences (such as your bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs and installed add-ons) gets stored securely on the Mozilla servers. You can share all this information across all your devices and restore it to any device when needed.

1. Click the menu button , then click Sign in to Sync. The Firefox Sync page will open in a new tab.
2. Click the Get Started button.
3. Fill out the form to create an account and click Next.
4. Check your email for the verification link and click on it to confirm your email address.

You can view the full guide on Firefox Sync at Mozilla Support.

You can export your Firefox bookmarks to HTML format from the bookmark manager. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In Firefox, click the “Firefox” button at the top left of the window.
2. Click “Bookmarks” in the menu that appears.
3. At the top of the Library window, click “Import and Backup”, and then click “Export Bookmarks to HTML…”.
4. Select the save file and location, then click “Save”.
5. You have successfully backed up your Firefox bookmarks.

You can import your Firefox bookmarks to HTML format from the bookmark manager. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click “Bookmarks” in the menu that appears.
2. At the top of the Library window, click “Import and Backup”, and then click “Import Bookmarks from HTML…”.
3. Select your bookmark backup file and click “Open”.
4. You have successfully restored your Firefox bookmarks.

In Internet Explorer, you can back up your Favorites by backing up the “Favorites” folder in your user profile folder.

You can back up only your Internet Explorer favorites with the following steps:

1. Close Internet Explorer if it is open.
2. Open the Start Menu and click your username in the top right.
3. Select the “Favorites” folder.
4. Copy the Favorites folder to another location (such as a flash drive, or into your documents folder.

To restore your Internet Explorer favorites, you need to copy the Favorites folder you backed up to the Favorites folder in your user profile. This is done with these steps:

1. Close Internet Explorer if it is open.
2. Open the Start Menu and click your username in the top right.
3. Copy the Favorites folder you backed up to your profile folder by pasting or dragging it into blank space.
4. You will be asked if you want to merge the two folders, select yes.
   1. If asked to overwrite any files, go ahead and click yes.