How to use the bookmarks html to csv converter
- Export your bookmarks from the browser as an HTML file, then open that file in a text editor.
- Copy all of the text and paste it into the box.
- Choose CSV, tab separated text or JSON objects.
- Copy the result or download the CSV, and sort or filter it in a spreadsheet.
Formula
each folder is a heading followed by a nested list; each bookmark is a link inside that list
folder path = the headings of every list the link sits inside, joined with " / "
date columns = the ADD_DATE and LAST_MODIFIED numbers as calendar dates in UTC
Ten digit numbers are seconds since 1970, thirteen digit numbers are milliseconds and sixteen digit numbers are microseconds. Dates before 1990 or after 2200 are left blank.
A small export with a nested folder
The sample file has a folder called Reading that holds a link titled Essays & notes and a folder called Science. Science holds Space news, and one more link, Home page, sits at the top level. The result has three rows: Reading with Essays & notes, Reading / Science with Space news, and a blank folder for Home page.
The date 1700000000 is November 14, 2023 in UTC, and 1690000000 is July 22, 2023. The summary shows 3 bookmarks, 3 folder paths (the blank one counts), and 0 repeated addresses. A file with the same address twice would keep both rows and report 1 repeat.
What the file looks like inside
Browsers write bookmarks in an old format that was first used by Netscape. It has a heading for every folder and a link for every bookmark, with the dates as attributes. The tool reads only these headings, links and dates, so the exact style of the file does not matter. Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari can all export this format.
After conversion, sort the rows with the Sort CSV by Column tool, clean a list of addresses with the URL List Cleaner, or change the format with the CSV and JSON Converter. For tables written in Markdown, use the Markdown Table to CSV Converter.
What is left out
Icons, keywords and any bookmark data that is kept in the browser but not written to the export are not included. Dates are shown in UTC, which can differ by a day from your local date near midnight. A bookmark with no address still gets a row, with a blank address.
Assumptions and limits
- The text is a bookmarks export in the Netscape format, with DL lists, H3 headings and A links.
- Titles have their character codes decoded, so & shows as &.
- Up to 2,000,000 characters are read, and nothing is uploaded.
- A folder with no bookmarks does not appear, since the output lists bookmarks and not folders.
Frequently asked questions
How do I export bookmarks from my browser?
Open the bookmark manager of your browser and choose the export option. It saves an HTML file. The exact menu differs between browsers and versions, so look for Export bookmarks in the manager.
Why is my bookmark bar listed as a folder?
Browsers write the bookmark bar as a folder, usually with a name such as Bookmarks bar, so it is part of every path below it. You can delete that part of the path in a spreadsheet.
What does it mean when a date is empty?
The file had no date for that bookmark, or the number was not in a range the tool trusts, so it was left blank and not guessed.
Can I get the folders in the output as well?
Each row carries its folder path, so you can group by folder in a spreadsheet. Empty folders are not listed.