How to Copy Internet Explorer Settings to a New Computer

Chances are when you get a new computer, you won't want to leave your valuable settings behind on your old PC. This includes important data stored in your browser such as cookies, which are responsible for remembering your usernames and passwords. Internet Explorer offers an easy way to back up your favorites, feeds and cookies to a file. Then you can import that file on to your new computer to restore these settings.

Launch Internet Explorer and press the "Alt" key to bring up the menu bar.

In the File menu, click "Import and Export..." Then choose "Export to a file" and click "Next."

Select which settings you would like to export. Options should include Favorites, Feeds, and Cookies. Then click "Next."

If you chose to export favorites, choose from which folder you want to export the favorites, then click "Next." Skip this step if you did not choose to export your favorites.

Insert your USB flash drive. Depending on what you chose to export, you need to select where you want to store the file for each. Click "Browse..." and then select your flash drive as the storage location. Click "Next" if necessary and click "Export" when you're ready. Click "Finish" to exit the wizard, then eject your flash drive.

Insert the flash drive into your new computer. Launch Internet Explorer and press the "Alt" key to bring up the menu bar.

In the File menu, click "Import and Export..." Then choose "Import from a file" and click "Next."

Select which settings you would like to import. Options include Favorites, Feeds, and Cookies. Then click "Next."

For each setting you chose, click "Browse..." to locate your flash drive and select the file you want to import. If you chose to import favorites, select the folder where you want to import the favorites. Click "Next" if necessary and click "Import" when you're ready. Click "Finish" to exit the wizard.