How to Back Up Favorites in Internet Explorer

Co-authored by Mitch Harris

Last Updated: March 5, 2023 Tested

Backing up your Favorites on Internet Explorer is as easy as manually copying and pasting the file elsewhere or exporting it to a new destination. This article will cover both methods in detail while also discussing some variations between different versions of the browser. If you wish to be entirely sure that your Favorites are saved in multiple locations or accessible from different files, the solutions are pretty straightforward.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Copying Your Favorites Folder

1
Open Windows Explorer. Note that this refers to Windows' File Explorer, not the Internet Explorer browser. You may open Windows Explorer by pressing ⊞ Win + E, clicking the File Explorer folder on your Taskbar, performing a search for "File Explorer" on the Start screen or selecting the File Explorer shortcut under "Windows System" in Apps View.
2
Access your user's "Documents and Settings." Use the address bar to perform a search for "C:\Documents and Settings\username." Rather than typing "username," insert your actual username. Many simply adopt "Admin" as their usernames.

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3
Access your Favorites folder. Scroll down and find the Favorites folder, which will look like a folder with a star emerging from it. Select the Favorites folder so that it's highlighted.
4
Copy the Favorites folder. Once the folder is highlighted, right-click and select "Copy" from the menu that appears. Alternatively, you may also press Ctrl+C to copy the folder using your keyboard.
5
Paste the Favorites folder in a new location. You may choose to place your Favorites folder on a backup disk, a USB stick, or elsewhere on your hard disk. Once you've selected a location, right-click and select "Paste." Alternatively, you may also press Ctrl+V to paste the folder using your keyboard. This new location will serve as a backup for your Favorites.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Exporting Favorites on Internet Explorer 5.0 to 7

1
Open Internet Explorer. Simply click the "Start" menu and then select "Internet Explorer." You may also find this browser elsewhere if you've stored it on your desktop or Taskbar.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}
2
Access the "Import and Export" screen. From Internet Explorer, click the "File" menu. Then select "Import and Export" from the dropdown menu that appears.^{[2]
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Research source}
3
Initiate the export process. Begin by clicking "Next" on the "Import and Export" screen that first appears. Then select "Export Favorites" and again click "Next."^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}
4
Select the files you wish to export. First, click the "Browse" button.You can then either select specific folders you wish to export or export all Favorites by leaving the whole folder highlighted. Once you've determined what you wish to export, click "Next" once more.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}
5
Choose a backup destination. Select a file or drive in which you wish your Favorites to be exported and then click "Next." Finally, click "Finish." This new location will serve as a backup for your Favorites without affecting the file that you've had exported.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Exporting Favorites on Internet Explorer 8 and Above

1
Open Internet Explorer. Simply click the "Start" menu and then select "Internet Explorer." You may also find this browser elsewhere if you've stored it on your desktop or Taskbar.
2
Access your Favorites. Click the Favorites icon in the upper, righthand corner. It will look like a star.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
Go to source}
3
Initiate the export process. Begin by clicking the downward pointing arrow next to "Add to favorites." Alternatively, you may simply press Alt+Z on your keyboard. Finally, select "Import and export" from the menu that appears.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}
4
Select the files you wish to export. Select "Export to a file" on the "Import and export" window and then click "Next." Check the box next to "Favorites" and then click "Next" again. Finally, choose the folder(s) of Favorites you wish to export or—if you wish to export them all—leave the entire Favorites folder selected. When satisfied, click "Next" once more.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}
5
Choose a backup destination. First, click the "Browse" button. Then select a file or drive in which you wish your Favorites to be exported. Upon deciding on a location, click the "Export" button and then click "Finish." This new location will serve as a backup for your Favorites without affecting the file that you've had exported.^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I export favorites from Internet Explorer?

Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert
Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University.

Mitch Harris

Consumer Technology Expert

Expert Answer

Go into your bookmark manager and save your favorites from there. Then, export them to a file and import that file into any other program you might be using for bookmarks.
Question

My Favorites list has disappeared. Still have the tool bar for Favorites. I have done many steps to find/ recover them. No luck. It seems they are not in my computer. They may be somewhere around because when I try to mark a new favorite it says there is another equal site already.

Community Answer

You may wish to try the appropriate "export" method and see if you can then find them in the new location. If they indeed still exist, Internet Explorer should be able to export them to the location of your choice.

Warnings

If you delete the wrong folder (using the copying and pasting technique), you might be in serious trouble. It is possible to destroy installed software by deleting the wrong folders. Be careful with this procedure.

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