Google Chrome features an excellent built-in password manager that seamlessly synchronises your login credentials across your computer and smartphone. However, if you decide to switch to a different web browser or upgrade to a dedicated third-party password manager (such as Bitwarden or 1Password), you will need a way to take your saved passwords with you.
Fortunately, you are not locked into Google’s ecosystem forever. By learning how to export your saved passwords from Google Chrome, you can download your entire credential vault into a single spreadsheet, allowing you to easily import it into any other software.
How to Export Passwords on a Desktop Computer
The export process is identical whether you are using Windows, macOS, or Linux, as the feature is built directly into the Chrome browser interface.
- Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
- Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) located in the top-right corner of the window, next to your profile picture.
- Hover your mouse over Passwords and autofill and select Google Password Manager from the expanded menu.
- You are now in your password vault. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Settings.
- Look for the section labelled Export passwords and click the blue Download file button.
- A security prompt will appear. Because you are attempting to download highly sensitive data, Windows or macOS will force you to enter your computer’s administrator password (or use fingerprint/FaceID) to verify your identity.
- Once verified, a standard “Save As” dialogue box will open. Choose a location to save your file (such as your Desktop) and click Save.
How to Export Passwords on an iPhone or Android
If you do not have access to a desktop computer, you can still export your vault directly from the Chrome mobile app.
- Open the Google Chrome app on your smartphone.
- Tap the three dots (located at the bottom right on iOS, or top right on Android) and select Password Manager.
- Tap the Settings gear icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap on Export passwords.
- You will be prompted to authenticate using your phone’s lock screen PIN, fingerprint, or Face ID.
- Once authenticated, a share sheet will appear. You can email the file to yourself, save it directly to your phone’s files, or send it to a secure cloud drive.
The Critical Security Risk of CSV Files
When you export your passwords from Google Chrome, the browser downloads them as a .csv (Comma Separated Values) file. You can open this file using Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, or Google Sheets.
You must understand one absolutely critical security fact: This CSV file is completely unencrypted.
If you open the file, you will see a neatly organised spreadsheet containing every single username, website URL, and password you have ever saved, completely visible in plain text. If a hacker, a malicious piece of software, or even a curious roommate gains access to this specific file, they instantly possess the keys to your entire digital life.
Therefore, you must adhere to the following best practices:
- Never email the file: If your email account is ever compromised, the hacker will find your unencrypted password spreadsheet sitting in your Sent folder.
- Never leave it on your Desktop: Only generate the CSV file when you are actively ready to import it into your new password manager.
- Delete it immediately: The very second you have successfully imported your passwords into your new software, permanently delete the CSV file from your computer. Do not simply move it to the Recycle Bin; ensure you empty the bin completely.
