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Import & Export

Migrate your bookmarks into Pocket from any browser, or export your complete library at any time.

Importing bookmarks​

Pocket accepts standard Netscape HTML bookmark export files generated by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, and other modern browsers.

How to import​

  1. In your web browser, export your bookmarks to an HTML file (e.g., bookmarks.html).
  2. Open Pocket and navigate to Settings > Transfer.
  3. Under Import bookmarks, click Choose file and select your HTML file.
  4. Select your preferred folder strategy:
    • Smart hierarchy (Recommended): Browser folders are imported directly as Pocket collections. Subfolders are cleanly mapped, and links inside deep directories are organized cleanly.
    • Tags only: All imported bookmarks are placed in "No collection", and the original folder names are attached as tags.
  5. Choose whether to enable Check link health after import.
  6. Click Import.

Duplicate detection​

Pocket normalizes every URL during import:

  • Strips tracking parameters (utm_*, fbclid, ref, etc.)
  • Lowercases domain names and removes trailing slashes
  • Treats http:// and https:// variants of the same address as identical

If an imported link already exists in your library, Pocket safely skips it without creating duplicate entries or altering your existing tags.

Post-import health check​

If you enable the link health check, Pocket saves all bookmarks immediately into the database first. A background audit queue then probes each link sequentially to check if the target site is still alive. Any dead links (such as HTTP 404 or non-existent domains) are tagged and grouped under Needs attention in the sidebar for you to review or remove.

Exporting your library​

You own your data. Pocket provides two export formats under Settings > Transfer:

1. Browser-compatible HTML​

Downloads a standard Netscape Bookmark HTML file. This file can be imported directly into any desktop browser or mobile bookmark manager. Your collections are exported as standard nested bookmark folders.

2. Full JSON archive​

Exports a complete, structured JSON archive of your personal library. This includes:

  • Raw and normalized URLs
  • Titles, descriptions, and site names
  • Collection assignments
  • All attached tags
  • Creation dates and last checked statuses

The JSON format is ideal for human inspection, custom scripting, or automated migrations between servers.