Import from macOS & Safari

Use this article for help exporting data from the following platforms, and importing into Bitwarden.

  • Safari (macOS and iOS)
  • Passwords app (macOS)

[!TIP] Safari/macOS Export Version Exporting passwords requires Safari 15.0+ or macOS Monterey (12.0)+.

Export from Safari or macOS

You can export your passwords directly from Safari on your mac computer or from macOS Passwords:

Safari

From your desktop

To export your data from Safari:

  1. Select File → Export browsing data to file from the macOS menu bar, choose passwords, and select Download:

Export from Safari 2. Save the .zip export to any location and use Touch ID or your macOS password to complete the export. 3. When you're ready, unzup the .zip to obtain your Passwords.csv file for import into Bitwarden.

From an iPhone

To export data from Safari:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and navigate to Apps → Safari.
  2. Scroll down to the History and Website Data section and tap Export.
  3. Choose the Passwords option and tap Save to Downloads.

Your data will be saved without encryption into your iCloud Drive. As always, make sure you delete export files once your data is imported to Bitwarden.

macOS Passwords app

To export data from the macOS Passwords app:

  1. Locate and open the macOS Passwords app. You'll be prompted to use Touch ID or your password to continue.
  2. Once your app is unlocked, select File and then Export All Passwords to File....

Export macOS Passwords 3. You will be prompted with a dialog confirming that you want to export saved passwords. Select Export Passwords... to continue. 4. Save your export to any location and use Touch ID or your password to complete the export.

Import to Bitwarden

Data can be imported to Bitwarden from the web app, browser extension, desktop app, and CLI. Data is encrypted locally before being sent to the server for storage.

[!NOTE] Items not imported While some item types cannot be imported, you can still add them to a vault:

Web app

To import data to your Bitwarden vault:

  1. Select Tools.
  2. Select Import:

Import items Import items 3. From the Vault dropdown menu, select where to save the data:

  • To save data in your personal vault, select My vault. (Optional) Choose an existing Folder to organize the imported items.

[!NOTE] Choosing a folder with a folder defined in the import. If your data file contains folders from your previous password manager and you select a destination folder from the dropdown menu, the imported folders will be nested inside the folder you selected. - To save data in an organization's vault, select the organization's name. (Optional) Choose a Collection to organize the imported items and share with other members. (You can only choose a collection where you have can manage permission.) 4. From the File format dropdown menu, select the file format of your exported data. 5. To enter your data, do one of the following:

  • Select Choose File and pick the exported file from your computer.
  • Copy and paste the contents of your exported file into the text box.

[!WARNING] Duplicative Imports Importing does not check for duplicates. If you import the same file more than once or import items already in your vault, duplicate items will be created. 6. Select Import. If you're importing a password-protected .jsonfile, enter the password into the Confirm vault import window that appears. 7. After your data is imported, delete the exported data file from your computer. This will protect you in the event your computer is compromised. If you're importing to Bitwarden from another password manager or browser, you may also want to delete data from that tool.

Browser extension

To import data to your vault:

  1. Select Settings.
  2. Select Vault options.
  3. Select Import items. A new window will appear.

  4. From the Vault dropdown menu, select where to save the data:

  5. To save data in your personal vault, select My vault. (Optional) Choose an existing Folder to organize the imported items.

[!NOTE] Choosing a folder with a folder defined in the import. If your data file contains folders from your previous password manager and you select a destination folder from the dropdown menu, the imported folders will be nested inside the folder you selected. - To save data in an organization's vault, select the organization's name. (Optional) Choose a Collection to organize the imported items and share with other members. (You can only choose a collection where you have can manage permission.) 5. From the File format dropdown menu, select the import file format. 6. Select Choose File and pick the file or copy and paste your file’s contents into the text box.

[!WARNING] Duplicative Imports Importing does not check for duplicates. If you import the same file more than once or import items already in your vault, duplicate items will be created. 7. Select Import data. If you are importing a password protected .jsonfile, enter the password into the Confirm vault import window that appears. 8. After your data is imported, delete the exported data file from your device. This will protect you in the event your computer is compromised. If you're importing to Bitwarden from another password manager or browser, you may also want to delete data from that tool.

Mobile

There are two ways to import data when using a mobile device. Direct import with CXP is often the easiest, but is only supported by a limited number of password manager apps at this time.

Most common method for mobile

For most devices, open a mobile browser. Log in to Bitwarden there and follow the web app import steps.

Direct import with the Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP)

Bitwarden supports the FIDO Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP). This facilitates an alternate, often faster import path by removing the need to manually download and handle a data file. The password manager app that currently stores your data must also support CXP, and the steps vary by application.

CXP with iOS devices

To import data using a mobile device with iOS 26+:

  1. Open the other CXP-compatible password manager app where your data is saved.
  2. Depending on the app, find the export data option and choose which items to import. You may need to complete extra steps, like logging in or confirming you want to move data.

[!NOTE] Apple Passwords CXP steps In the Apple Passwords app, for example:

  1. Tap the ⋯ Options icon.
  2. Tap Export Data to Another App.
  3. Check which passwords and passkeys you want to transfer from the list that appears. When done, tap Continue.
  4. On the Export Passwords screen, tap Continue.
  5. Select Bitwarden for the destination and then tap Continue.
  6. Tap Continue in "Bitwarden".
  7. The Bitwarden app will open. Tap Continue to confirm the import.
  8. Once complete, a message confirming that your data was imported will appear.

CXP with Android devices

To import data using a mobile device with Android 14+:

  1. Open the Bitwarden app.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Vault.
  4. Tap Import items.
  5. Tap Import from another app.
  6. Select the other CXP-compatible password manager app where your data is saved and tap Continue.
  7. Depending on the app, choose which items to import. You may need to complete extra steps, like logging in or confirming you want to move data.
  8. Once complete, a message confirming that your data was imported will appear.

[!NOTE] Android CXP doesn't support Dashlane. At this time, importing Dashlane data via CXP isn't supported on Android.

Desktop

To import data to your vault:

  1. Select Import from the navigation menu.

  2. From the Vault dropdown menu, select where to save the data:

  3. To save data in your personal vault, select My vault. (Optional) Choose an existing Folder to organize the imported items.

[!NOTE] Choosing a folder with a folder defined in the import. If your data file contains folders from your previous password manager and you select a destination folder from the dropdown menu, the imported folders will be nested inside the folder you selected. - To save data in an organization's vault, select the organization's name. (Optional) Choose a Collection to organize the imported items and share with other members. (You can only choose a collection where you have can manage permission.) 3. From the File format dropdown menu, select the import file format. 4. Select Choose File and pick the file or copy and paste your file’s contents into the text box.

[!WARNING] Duplicative Imports Importing does not check for duplicates. If you import the same file more than once or import items already in your vault, duplicate items will be created. 5. Select Import data. If you are importing a password protected .jsonfile, enter the password into the Confirm vault import window that appears. 6. After your data is imported, delete the exported data file from your computer. This will protect you in the event your computer is compromised. If you're importing to Bitwarden from another password manager or browser, you may also want to delete data from that tool.

CLI

To import data to your vault, use the following CLI command:

bw import <format> <path>

bw import requires a format (use bw import --formats to retrieve a list of formats) and a path, for example:

bw import <format> /Users/myaccount/Documents/mydata.csv

After your data is imported, delete the exported data file from your computer. This will protect you in the event your computer is compromised. If you're importing to Bitwarden from another password manager or browser, you may also want to delete data from that tool.

Troubleshoot import errors

If an “Import error” message appears, no data was added to your vault. Fix the import file issue and try again.

iCloud/Mac Keychain/Safari import issues

As of Safari 15.0, you can export passwords from Safari in a .csv file. After downloading the file, condition your .csv to match Bitwarden's format and import your data.