Thanks to a recent update, Apple has made it possible to export Safari bookmarks from iPhone and iPad. Notably, you can now export the selected browser data as an archive to allow importing into other browsers. Bear in mind that your exported browser data will be saved without encryption into your iCloud Drive folder inside the Apple Files app and will be visible to anyone who can access the exported file – on all devices linked to the same iCloud account. That said, follow along to learn how to export Safari bookmarks from iPhone and iPad.
Export Safari Bookmarks from iPhone and iPad in iOS 18/iPadOS 18
So, how does exporting Safari bookmarks work? Well, you need to first save your browsing data as a ZIP file to the Apple Files app (in iCloud Drive downloads folder). Once that’s done, you will be able to export the file via the desired medium.
Save Safari Bookmarks to iCloud Drive Folder on Your iPhone and iPad
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- In the Settings menu, scroll all the way to the bottom of the screen and choose Apps.
- Next, scroll down to find Safari and select it.
- Next up, head over to the History and Website Data section and choose the “Export” option.
- After that, select the type of data you want to export. For this guide, we are going to select the Bookmarks option.
- Once you have selected the preferred data, tap on the “Save to downloads” option at the bottom.
- Now, you will be asked to authenticate using your Face ID or Touch ID. Make sure to authenticate to proceed.
- Next, you will get a confirmation message saying, “Your data has been exported to Downloads in your iCloud Drive folder and is now available to be imported into a new browser”. Tap on the Done button to finish.
Export Safari Bookmarks from Your iOS or iPadOS Device
- On your iPhone or iPad, launch the Apple Files app.
- After that, tap on the “Browse” tab at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Under the Locations section, select “iCloud Drive”.
- Now, choose the “Downloads” folder.
- Here, you should see the downloaded Safari file. Tap on the triple-dot icon at the top right corner of the screen and choose “Select” in the drop-down menu.
- Next, select the exported file.
- Next up, tap the Share icon.
- Finally, choose the desired medium (such as email, AirDrop, WhatsApp, etc) through which you would like to export the Safari bookmarks.
Wrapping up…
There you have it! While there is no doubt that Safari is a top-notch browser, it doesn’t excel in all aspects. This is where third-party browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge come into play. With the ability to export and import browsing data introduced as a native feature in the latest iteration of iOS, switching from Safari to other browsers or vice versa has become a hassle-free affair.
