Google Chrome features a robust built-in password manager. Over the years, it silently accumulates hundreds of login credentials for every website you visit. If you decide to switch to a dedicated password manager app (like Bitwarden or 1Password), or if you simply want a hard physical backup of your passwords in case your Google account is locked, you must get those passwords out of Chrome.
You do not need to manually copy and paste 500 different passwords into a text document. Google Chrome includes a hidden tool to instantly extract your entire encrypted password vault into a single, offline CSV (Comma Separated Values) spreadsheet file.
How to Safely Extract Google Chrome Saved Passwords
You must use the advanced export function within the Google Password Manager dashboard.
Warning: The extracted CSV file contains all your passwords in plain, unencrypted text. Anyone who opens this file can read your bank passwords. Save it to a secure location and delete it immediately after you import it into your new password manager.
- Open the Google Chrome browser.
- Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select Google Password Manager.
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Settings.
- Look for the section labeled Export passwords.
- Click the blue Download file button.
- Because you are attempting to extract highly sensitive data, Windows (or macOS) will intervene. A security prompt will appear demanding you type your Computer Login Password (or scan your fingerprint) to prove you are the physical owner of the machine.
- After authenticating, a standard “Save As” dialog box will appear.
- Choose a secure location (like your Desktop) and click Save.
Chrome instantly generates the Chrome Passwords.csv file. You can open this file in Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers to view a perfectly organized grid containing every website URL, your username, and your unencrypted password. When you are finished migrating to your new software, permanently delete the CSV file and empty your Trash.