Trying to figure out how to share a bookmark folder in Chrome with a colleague or friend? You might be looking for a “share” button that doesn’t exist. The best and easiest way to do this is by exporting the specific folder as a single HTML file, which you can then send via email or any messaging app. This guide will walk you through the exact steps.
The Best Method: Exporting a Single Folder as an HTML File
This is the official and most reliable way to share a collection of bookmarks. The person you send it to can then import it directly into their own browser.
- Open the Chrome Bookmark Manager. The fastest way is with the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+O (on Windows/ChromeOS) or Cmd+Shift+O (on Mac).
- In the left-hand navigation pane, find the specific folder you want to share. Click on it to select it.
- With the folder selected, click the three-dot menu (⋮) located in the top-right corner of the Bookmark Manager (above the list of bookmarks).
- From the dropdown menu, select Export bookmarks.
- A “Save As” window will pop up. Give the file a name (e.g., “Shared Project Links”) and save it to your computer. It will be saved as an HTML file.
You can now attach this single HTML file to an email, or send it via Slack, Teams, or any other messaging service. When the recipient opens the file, it will open as a webpage with a clickable list of all the links from your folder.
Tired of the Clunky Bookmark Manager?
Managing and organizing folders before you share them can be a pain in Chrome’s default interface. I designed my own free Chrome extension, Easy Bookmark Viewer, to give you a cleaner, faster, and more powerful way to view and search your bookmarks. It makes tasks like this much simpler.
Common Questions About Sharing Bookmarks
Can I share a “live” folder that syncs between users?
No, not with the standard version of Google Chrome. When you export a folder, you are creating a static copy at that moment in time. Any changes you make to the folder later will not be reflected in the file you sent. True collaborative bookmarking requires specialized third-party tools.
What’s an alternative way to share a few links?
If you only have a few links to share and don’t want to export a file, you can simply right-click each bookmark in your folder, select “Copy,” and paste the links one by one into a message. This is only practical for very small folders.
Conclusion
While Chrome doesn’t have a direct “share” button for folders, the export feature is a powerful and effective way to send a collection of links to anyone. By saving a folder as an HTML file, you create a simple, universally accessible list that makes collaboration easy. For even better day-to-day management of your bookmarks, consider giving the Easy Bookmark Viewer extension a try.
