Like all web browsers that support saving passwords within the browser itself, Chrome lets you import passwords directly from a CSV file. This is a very helpful feature for those who are managing passwords manually or using a password manager and want to transition to Google Chrome’s built-in password manager. Without further ado, let’s dive in and learn.
Related: How to export saved passwords in Chrome
Before You Begin
Before starting, verify that the CSV (Comma Separated Values) file is in proper format. To check, open the CSV file in Excel (or Google Sheets) and check if the first row of the CSV file includes these five columns.
- name
- url
- username
- password
- note
If the file is not in proper format, update it to match the required format.
If there is no data in a particular cell or column, Chrome will import it as blank. For instance, take a look at the example image below, the cells under the “name” & “note” columns of the second password are empty. That means Chrome will import the password without the friendly name and custom note of the password entry.
Note: Importing passwords will not delete or replace existing passwords in Chrome.
Importing Password to Chrome From a CSV File
Unlike the older versions of Chrome where you are required to enable the relevant flag (#PasswordImport), the option to import from CSV is now integrated into Chrome password options. So now, the process of importing passwords from a CSV file into Chrome is straightforward. Here are the steps you should follow.
1. First, launch the Chrome browser. You can do this by clicking on the Start button, searching for Google Chrome, and clicking the Open option.
2. In the Chrome browser, click the three dots icon on the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Click the Autofill and Passwords option on the sidebar.
4. Click the Google Password Manager option.
5. Go to the Settings tab on the sidebar.
6. Click the Select File button next to “Import Passwords.”
7. Navigate to the folder where the files are saved, select the CSV file, and click Open.
8. Chrome will import all the passwords from the CSV file. Click the View Passwords button to see the imported passwords.
Note: If you want to delete the CSV file immediately after importing, select the “Delete CSV, so others who use this device can’t see your password” checkbox.
9. Alternatively, select the Passwords tab to see your imported passwords.
Important: Delete the CSV File After Import
The CSV file has all your passwords in plain text. That means anyone with access to your device might be able to open the files and see all your usernames and passwords. They might even be able to copy it.
To make sure it doesn’t happen, you must delete the CSV file as soon as you import it to Chrome. To delete the file, select the file and press the Shift + Delete shortcut. This shortcut skips the recycle bin and deletes the file permanently.
If necessary, you can delete the file irrecoverably using SDelete. Files deleting using this method will not be recoverable even with specialized data recovery software.
Wrapping Up – Chrome Password Import Using CSV File Is Easy
As you can see, it is pretty simple and straightforward to import your passwords to Chrome using a CSV file. While doing so, ensure the CSV structure is as shown. Also, remember that the CSV file stores all your passwords in plain text. As such, once the import is done, delete the CSV file as soon as possible so that others cannot access the files and your passwords are not compromised.
If you have any questions, comment below and I will answer.
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Update: The tutorial is updated on April 19th.
I like it. Great need to know PSA. Might want to move the section on the .CSV format bit closer to the start of the article, I hit Enter before I noticed. Thankfully no errors came up. Are there any known issues for keeping the setting to Enabled?