How to Export Passwords and Accounts to a CSV File from the Passwords App on Mac in macOS Sequoia

In macOS Sequoia, Apple elevated credential management from a nested panel inside System Settings into a dedicated, full-featured Passwords application. The Passwords app serves as a centralised vault for web logins, two-factor authentication verification codes, passkeys, Wi-Fi network passwords, and shared family credentials. While keeping credentials synchronised across iCloud Keychain offers seamless day-to-day convenience, creating an offline, platform-independent backup or migrating credentials into a dedicated enterprise password manager (such as 1Password, Bitwarden, or KeePass) requires an exported ledger. Fortunately, macOS Sequoia provides a native export tool that outputs your vault into a standard Comma-Separated Values (CSV) file.

Critical Security Warning Regarding CSV Backups

What Data Is Included in the Exported CSV?

The exported CSV file contains structured columns containing all primary credential metadata:

• Title: Name of the website or application service.
• URL: Web address associated with the login page.
• Username: Login identifier or email address.
• Password: The plain-text password string.
• Notes: Any custom text notes stored inside the credential entry.
• OTPAuth: Time-based one-time password (TOTP) secret seed keys used for two-factor authentication.

Note that biometric passkeys cannot be exported into plain-text CSV formats due to cryptographic public-private key pair architecture. Passkeys remain safely anchored inside your hardware Secure Enclave and iCloud Keychain.

Step-by-Step: Exporting All Passwords from the Mac Passwords App

Exporting your credentials requires device administrator authentication:

1. Launch the Passwords application from Spotlight, Launchpad, or the Applications folder in macOS Sequoia.
2. Unlock your vault using Touch ID or by typing your Mac administrator account password.
3. In the top menu bar, click on File.
4. Select Export All Passwords… from the dropdown menu.
5. A system security dialogue appears warning that exported passwords will be readable by anyone who accesses the file. Click Export Passwords… to proceed.
6. Authenticate once more using your Mac password or Touch ID sensor.
7. Choose a secure save location (e.g. your local Desktop or an encrypted USB drive).
8. Assign a filename (e.g. Passwords_Backup.csv) and click Save.

macOS immediately compiles your vault records into the specified CSV file.

Exporting Only Specific Accounts or Passwords

If you only wish to share or migrate a select subset of login accounts rather than your entire personal keychain:

1. In the Passwords app sidebar, select All or a specific category (e.g. Security or a Shared Group).
2. Hold the Command key and click individual accounts to select them, or press Shift to select a continuous range.
3. Click File in the top menu bar.
4. Notice the menu item dynamically adapts to: Export Selected Passwords….
5. Click the option, authenticate, and save your targeted CSV file.

Importing Your Exported Passwords into Third-Party Managers

Because the exported document conforms to standard CSV credential formatting, importing into alternative managers is seamless:

• Bitwarden: Log into the web vault, navigate to Tools > Import Data, choose Apple Safari / Keychain (csv), and select your file.
• 1Password: Open 1Password on your Mac, click File > Import, choose Apple Passwords (.csv), and upload the document.
• Google Chrome: Open Chrome Settings, navigate to Autofill and passwords > Google Password Manager > Settings > Import passwords, and select the CSV.

Safely Deleting the Plain-Text CSV After Use

Once you verify that your passwords have imported successfully into your destination vault:

1. Select the CSV file in Finder.
2. Press Option + Command + Delete to permanently delete the file immediately without sending it to the Trash.