PSA: Chrome on iOS now lets you import data from Safari — here’s how
Google Chrome on iOS has added a long-awaited feature: the ability to import data directly from Safari. No workarounds required.
According to Chrome’s App Store version history, the capability arrived in April with version 148.0.778.47. Anyone who has tried switching browsers on iPhone knows the friction involved. Bookmarks stay put. Passwords don’t follow. Most users abandon the process entirely.
What Gets Imported
The new tool lives inside Chrome’s settings menu. Once triggered, it pulls in bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords and payment information from Safari. Imported data is saved to your Google Account, meaning it can sync across all your devices.
How It Works
Apple does not allow browsers to connect directly, so Chrome relies on an export-import method instead.
Step 1: Export your Safari data.
Open iOS Settings, scroll to Safari and find the import/export section under “History and Website Data.” Tap Export, select what to include, and Safari packages everything into a ZIP file saved to your Files app.
Step 2: Import into Chrome.
Open Chrome settings, tap “Safari import,” then select your exported ZIP file. Chrome reads it and completes the transfer in seconds. A summary screen confirms what came across.
One Security Note Worth Knowing
Safari explicitly warns that the exported file is unencrypted. Anyone with access to that ZIP can view the contents. Delete it from your Files app once the import is complete.
The feature does not make switching browsers entirely seamless, but it is meaningfully closer than before.
