How can I move passwords to a different password manager safely?
Quick answer
Use the old manager’s official export route and the new manager’s official import route, checking that the export format is supported before you start. Treat any exported file as sensitive: Apple says its Mac Passwords CSV export is unencrypted and should be deleted after importing. Compare entries and test a few important logins before relying on the new copy. Keep access to the old manager while you check; formats are not necessarily compatible.
The question, the details, the next step.
I want to move my passwords to another manager. What’s the safest order to do it in?
Treat it as a controlled transfer. First, identify the exact old and new products and read their official export and import instructions. Confirm what format the new manager accepts before creating an export; don’t assume two managers use compatible formats. Then export, import, verify the results, and keep access to the old manager while you resolve any discrepancies. The supplied guidance covers particular routes, not universal compatibility.
My old manager is Apple Passwords on a Mac. How should I handle its export?
Apple documents exporting selected or all passwords from Passwords on Mac as a CSV file. It warns that exported passwords are unencrypted and visible to anyone who can access the file, and says to delete the export after importing it into another password manager. [S1] Plan the destination and import steps first. Use a device and location you can control, and avoid leaving the file somewhere shared or easy to overlook. Those are cautious handling suggestions; the source does not describe every possible storage or backup location.
The new manager says it can import CSV. Can I assume the Apple file will work and everything will arrive?
No. Check the new manager’s own instructions for the supported format and any import limitations. Microsoft documents importing passwords from a CSV through Microsoft Edge’s browser-data import settings. [S2] That establishes a route into Edge, but not compatibility with every other manager or proof that every field will transfer. After importing, compare selected entries—including important accounts—and investigate missing or unexpectedly displayed details before relying on the new copy.
What would a simple verification plan look like?
For example, write down placeholders before starting: “New manager’s accepted format: [confirmed format]. Check: [important account], [second account], [less-used account]. Issues to resolve: [missing entry or field].” After import, confirm that those entries and their expected login details appear. Where appropriate, try signing in to a couple of important accounts using the saved entries. Keep the old manager available while you sort out any mismatch. This is a practical check, not a guarantee that every entry or related item transferred.
What if the import fails or I can’t tell whether the file is compatible?
Pause rather than guessing at file edits or repeatedly creating exports. Recheck the new manager’s official instructions and contact its support if the supported formats or expected fields remain unclear. If you made an Apple CSV export, continue treating it as sensitive and delete it after importing when you no longer need it, as Apple advises. [S1] Keep access to the old manager until you have checked the new copy and resolved discrepancies.
A practical checklist
Confirm the exact old and new managers and read their official export and import instructions.
Check the destination’s accepted format before creating an export.
Plan a controlled location and short time window for any temporary export.
Import, then compare selected entries and check important logins.
Resolve discrepancies while keeping access to the old manager.
Delete a temporary export when it is no longer needed, following the product’s guidance.
A few more useful answers
Does the supplied guidance prove Apple’s CSV will work in every password manager?
No. Apple’s source describes exporting a CSV, and Microsoft’s describes importing passwords from CSV into Edge. Neither establishes compatibility with every other manager or every field.
Should I remove the old manager as soon as the import finishes?
Keep access to the old manager while you check the new copy and resolve discrepancies. The supplied sources do not set out a universal deletion procedure.
Why treat a temporary export as sensitive?
Apple warns that its Mac Passwords CSV export is unencrypted and visible to anyone who can access the file, and advises deleting it after importing. [S1]
Sources
References used for this guide.
- [S1] Export passwords from your Mac to a file support.apple.com · Checked
- [S2] Import your favorites and passwords in Microsoft Edge support.microsoft.com · Checked