You have multiple Microsoft Edge profiles on Windows 11, and you need to move your Favorites bar—including all saved bookmarks—from one profile to another. You do not want to use cloud sync because of privacy concerns or a work policy that disables it. Edge stores each profile’s favorites in a separate file on your local drive, so you can manually copy that file between profiles. This article shows you exactly where those files are located and the step-by-step process to transfer your Favorites bar safely without enabling sync.
Key Takeaways: Move Edge Favorites Between Profiles Manually
- File path:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Bookmarks: This is the local file that stores all favorites for the default Edge profile. - File path:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Profile 1\Bookmarks: Each additional profile has its own Bookmarks file in a similarly named folder. - Copy and replace the Bookmarks file: You copy the source profile’s Bookmarks file and paste it into the destination profile’s folder to transfer all favorites.
Understanding Edge Profile Favorites Storage on Windows 11
Microsoft Edge stores every profile’s favorites, also called bookmarks, in a single JSON file named Bookmarks. This file is located inside the profile’s dedicated folder under the Edge user data directory. Each profile you create in Edge gets its own folder named Default for the first profile, Profile 1, Profile 2, and so on for subsequent profiles.
The Bookmarks file contains all your favorite folders, individual links, and their order on the Favorites bar. Edge reads this file every time you open the browser. When you copy the Bookmarks file from one profile folder to another, Edge immediately shows those favorites in the destination profile. No sync account is required.
Before you start, make sure Edge is not running. If Edge is open, it locks the Bookmarks file, and Windows will not let you copy or replace it. Close all Edge windows, including background processes, by checking Task Manager for any remaining Microsoft Edge processes.
Steps to Copy the Edge Favorites Bar Between Profiles
Follow these steps to move your Favorites bar from one Edge profile to another without using sync. The example below moves favorites from the Default profile to Profile 1. Adjust the folder names to match your own profile order.
Step 1: Locate the Source Profile’s Bookmarks File
- Open File Explorer
Press Windows + E on your keyboard. - Navigate to the Edge user data folder
In the address bar, paste this path and press Enter:%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data - Open the source profile folder
If your source profile is the first one you created, double-click the Default folder. If it is a later profile, double-click Profile 1, Profile 2, etc. - Find the Bookmarks file
Look for a file named Bookmarks with no file extension. It appears as a JSON file type in the details pane. Right-click it and select Copy.
Step 2: Locate the Destination Profile’s Folder
- Go back to the User Data folder
In File Explorer, click the back arrow or press Alt + Left Arrow to return to%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data. - Open the destination profile folder
If you are moving favorites to your second profile, double-click Profile 1. For a third profile, use Profile 2, and so on. If you are unsure which folder corresponds to which profile, open Edge, click your profile icon in the toolbar, and note the profile name. Then check the Local State file in the User Data folder with Notepad to match profile names to folder numbers.
Step 3: Paste the Bookmarks File into the Destination Folder
- Paste the copied file
Inside the destination profile folder, right-click an empty area and select Paste. If a dialog asks about replacing an existing Bookmarks file, click Replace the file in the destination. - Confirm the replacement
If you see a message that you need permission to replace the file, click Continue. You may need to provide administrator credentials if your user account is not the owner of the folder.
Step 4: Launch Edge and Verify the Favorites Bar
- Open Microsoft Edge
Double-click the Edge shortcut on your desktop or taskbar. - Switch to the destination profile
Click the profile icon in the top-right corner and select the destination profile from the menu. - Check the Favorites bar
The Favorites bar should now display all the folders and links from the source profile. If the bar is hidden, press Ctrl + Shift + B to toggle it on.
If the Edge Favorites Bar Does Not Show After the Transfer
“The Favorites bar is empty after copying the Bookmarks file”
This usually happens when Edge was still running in the background during the file copy. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Escape. Under the Processes tab, look for any Microsoft Edge entries. Select each one and click End task. Then repeat the copy process from Step 1.
“Edge crashes or shows corrupted favorites after the transfer”
The Bookmarks file might be from a newer Edge version that the destination profile does not support. To fix this, restore the original Bookmarks file in the destination folder. You can find a backup of the previous Bookmarks file in the same folder with a .bak extension. Rename it to Bookmarks and restart Edge. If no backup exists, close Edge, delete the copied Bookmarks file, and restart Edge—it will create a new empty Bookmarks file.
“I cannot find the correct profile folder number”
Open Edge and check which profile is currently active by clicking the profile icon. Note the profile name. Then close Edge completely. Open the Local State file in the User Data folder with Notepad. Search for the profile name. You will see a JSON entry with a key like “profile_name” and a value such as “Profile 2”. Use that folder number to locate the correct destination folder.
Manual Copy vs Sync: Which Method to Use for Edge Favorites Transfer
| Item | Manual File Copy | Edge Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Requires internet | No | Yes |
| Privacy concern | None — data stays local | Data transmitted to Microsoft servers |
| Works with work profiles | Yes, if local file access is allowed | Often blocked by group policy |
| Time to complete | Less than 2 minutes | Several minutes for first sync |
| Risk of data loss | Low if you back up the original file | Low, but conflicts can merge incorrectly |
| Supports favorites bar order | Yes, exact copy | Yes, but may reorder after conflict resolution |
You can now move your Edge Favorites bar between profiles without enabling sync on Windows 11. The manual file copy method gives you full control over your bookmark data and works even on locked-down corporate devices. For future transfers, consider creating a backup of your Bookmarks file before making changes. A useful tip: you can also copy the Bookmarks file to an external drive to transfer favorites to another computer running Edge.