Google Chrome Is Getting a Safari Data Import Option on iPhone

[MacRumors]

Chrome for iOS will soon feature an option for iPhone users to import their Safari data into Google's mobile browser, avoiding the need to perform the transfer on desktop.

Starting in Chrome 145, currently in beta, the new feature will guide users through the process of importing bookmarks, browsing history, and passwords from Safari, since Chrome cannot transfer the data directly because of Apple's privacy rules.

The process involves manually exporting Safari browsing data to a zip file downloaded to the user's iPhone, and then selecting the file in Chrome for import using the new option.

Chrome's interface displays a breakdown of what will be imported, before doing so on the user's confirmation, then the browser offers to delete the zip file as a privacy measure.

The feature is currently appearing in the latest version of Chrome 145 in TestFlight, so it should begin to roll out with the next stable release.

(Via MacObserver.)

Article Link: Google Chrome Is Getting a Safari Data Import Option on iPhone

 

[fatTribble]

It makes me nervous to see “Google” in the same sentence as “data import” 🤓

 

[wanha]

it's a mystery we'll never solve why Google would want our browsing history

 

[Zenman12]

The day of pain of import export is over across the board. I’m glad. It sucks to do things manually or cvs file.

 

[MGrayson3]

"Give data to Google" belongs somewhere near "cold dead fingers."

 

[vegetassj4]

Rather than let Chrome access my data, I would prefer it end up here:

 

[bluecoast]

Why would anyone want to do that?

 

[Astuces iOS]

Only sick people use Google Chrome

 

[ghanwani]

"Give data to Google" belongs somewhere near "cold dead fingers."

Unless you browse without cookies, they already have your data.

 

[timbloom]

I really wonder why anyone would want to use chrome on their iOS device. It’s my browser of choice on Windows, but I don’t feel it adds anything of value to Apple devices

 

[Hank001]

It makes me nervous to see “Google” in the same sentence as “data import” 🤓

After import, I think it'll export to Google. All by itself, no user input required!

I do think it's nice though that they offer to delete the zip file afterwards. Usually we need to do that kind of stuff ourselves.

 

[UliBaer]

Chrome on iOS isn't "Chrome", it is only a chromesque skin on top of Safari/WebKit.
Maybe sometime some browser will eventually get a real alternative rendering engine - at least in the EU. 👍

 

[Osxguy]

Why on an iPhone that prioritize your privacy would you use a junk browser like chrome. Like how much of the dark deep Google cool aid did you snort to make you want to continue using any of their products. I know because of the slow decline of the internet and death of data privacy we’ve allowed a few companies to control it, you still have to try and manage your privacy. I’m attaching the privacy of Google Chrome from the App Store here. You make your informed decision. One is safari. The other chrome…

 

[shurcooL]

I really wonder why anyone would want to use chrome on their iOS device. It’s my browser of choice on Windows, but I don’t feel it adds anything of value to Apple devices

Some people want to use the same browser on multiple devices for convenience of sync (tabs, history, auto-completion, and so on), whether that's Safari on both iOS and macOS, or Chrome on both Windows and Android, or <another browser> on both <mobile OS> and <desktop OS>. Clearly not everyone cares about it, but some do prefer it.

 

[svish]

Good to have this option. Makes it convenient. I do use Chrome as a secondary browser.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Long time coming for the desktop browser. Regardless how you feel, Chrome will get more integrated in the Apple ecosystem due to the Gemini collaboration and will most likely be as native as Safari once they add ApplePay and Password into the browser (not the **** extension). Additionally, with Safari changing their tab system which leads to dynamic sizing annoyances at least Chrome has stayed consistent and will leapfrog Safari if they don't do something about their UI.

 

[boswald]

If I had an Apple product I'd likely use Safari, as I really like it. Alas, I don't, so I'm using Chrome. It's a privacy minefield but it works.

 

[zenmacx]

Slowly or perhaps not so slowly more is being revealed about the relationship between Apple and Google.

How much longer before the truth leaks out.

What privacy?

 

[Ruggy]

Checking, the good news is it's something you still have to authorise yourself and it involves you exporting data from Keychain.
It seems nothing has changed and they are just showing people how to do it.
You don't want to use any browser which allows passwords to be exported in a couple of clicks as it means anyone can send a script to do it.

 

[Ar_c]

aaah thank you google for making it easier to give you my private data, i was already wondering how i can make that happen as conveniently as possible 🥰

 

[AndreaMaietta]

People use chrome for a massive amount of reasons a lot of people use chrome. The majority is for the workflow with their google apps and cross platform availability. Let’s be honest not everyone has an iPhone , iPad and Mac. Majority have iPhone maybe an Apple Watch and a pc safari doesn’t exist outside apple. when you add to this that a massive amount of people use google workspace etc it’s perfectly reasonable that people use chrome. For those worried about privacy like someone said above unless you browse completely cookie less google has data. If your worried about that and ads etc get AdGuard it even works with chrome on mobile. The obsessive fear of Google is kind of hilarious all the while people using chat gpt etc

 

[aespana]

I really wonder why anyone would want to use chrome on their iOS device. It’s my browser of choice on Windows, but I don’t feel it adds anything of value to Apple devices

A lot of people use Chrome on iPhone. Even worst, I've seen people using the Google app as a browser..

Sadly, the situation of the non Safari browsers on iOS is terrible. I would love to use Firefox with extensions as on Android.

 

[Thebugeyes]

Why would anyone want to do that?

Because Safari doesn’t work with so many website. I often have to change to chrome to make it work.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Why would anyone want to do that?

Uh, because it's nice to have your existing bookmarks and browsing history in your new web browser?

I mean, I'm not sure why people use Chrome on iOS in the first place (it's the same web engine), but obviously lots of people do. So given that people switch to Chrome, why wouldn't they want to move their browsing data?

 

[bluecoast]

Uh, because it's nice to have your existing bookmarks and browsing history in your new web browser?

I mean, I'm not sure why people use Chrome on iOS in the first place (it's the same web engine), but obviously lots of people do. So given that people switch to Chrome, why wouldn't they want to move their browsing data?

I guess I was being /s - using Chrome on iOS just is intrinsically weird!