How to Export and Import Passwords Across Different Browsers

You finally decided to switch from Google Chrome to Firefox, or maybe from Edge to Brave. But there is a massive roadblock: your old browser holds the passwords to hundreds of your accounts, and typing them all in manually is impossible.

Because browser developers want you to stay locked into their ecosystem, they often bury the export features deep in the settings. Here is the exact, secure method for migrating your passwords seamlessly via CSV files.

Phase 1: Exporting Your Passwords (The Source)

We need to extract a raw file containing all your login data.

Exporting from Google Chrome

1. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner and go to Settings.
2. Click on Autofill and passwords > Google Password Manager.
3. Click on Settings in the left menu.
4. Under the “Export passwords” section, click Download file.
5. You will be forced to enter your Windows PIN or Mac password to prove it’s you.
6. Save the Chrome Passwords.csv file to your desktop.

Exporting from Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the hamburger menu (≡) in the top right and select Passwords.
2. Click the three dots (⋮) at the top right of the password manager page.
3. Select Export Logins…
4. Enter your computer password and save the CSV file.

Phase 2: Importing the Passwords (The Destination)

Now we feed the CSV file into your new browser.

Importing into Chrome or Edge

1. Go to Settings > Autofill > Password Manager.
2. Click the three dots next to the “Saved Passwords” header (or go to Settings on the left panel).
3. Click Import passwords.
4. Click Choose File and select the CSV file you saved on your desktop.

Importing into Firefox

1. Firefox actually makes this incredibly easy. Click the hamburger menu (≡) and select Passwords.
2. Click the three dots (⋮) and select Import from another browser…
3. Instead of using a CSV file, Firefox will automatically detect Chrome or Edge installed on your PC and pull the passwords directly over with one click.

Phase 3: The Most Important Step

Delete the CSV file immediately.

A CSV file is completely unencrypted plain text. If a hacker or malware gets onto your computer and finds that file on your desktop, they instantly have the username and password to every single website you have ever visited. Once the import is successful, put the CSV file in your Recycle Bin, and empty the bin.

FAQ

Should I use a dedicated password manager instead?

Yes. Browsers are notoriously easy for malware to scrape. Using a dedicated, encrypted password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password is much safer, and you can import your browser CSV directly into them as well.