Here’s how to switch from 1Password to Apple Passwords

Source: 9to5Mac

A password manager used to be one of the most important third‑party apps anyone could have. It made it practical to have strong, unique passwords for every app, website, and online service we used.

Once Apple Passwords launched, however, the writing was on the wall for paid apps and subscriptions. The price hike just announced by 1Password looks set to persuade many more people to make the switch – and it’s very easy to do …

A password manager isn’t optional

In the early days of online services, it was common for people to use a single password for all of them. In many cases, that password was both weak and easy to guess. A terrifying number of non‑techies still do this today.

The safety of all of the online services you use is only as good as the security of the least‑secure website you access. Each time a data breach occurs, hackers can take the leaked credentials and try them against high‑value targets like financial services and Apple accounts.

Using a password manager to generate strong, unique passwords for every online service is something I’ve been pushing for well over a decade now, and it’s an absolute basic these days.

More people switching to Apple Passwords

Apple has long provided a built‑in password manager in the form of Keychain, later evolving into iCloud Keychain. It worked reasonably well, but third‑party managers were both more capable and friendlier.

That changed last year when Apple completely revamped things with a dedicated Passwords app. This matched paid third‑party apps in terms of both functionality and friendliness, prompting many users—including me—to make the switch. I’ve been using it ever since and haven’t found any downsides.

1Password recently announced steep price increases, with individual plans rising from $35.88 to $47.88 per year and family plans from $59.88 to $71.88. From reader comments, it sounds like this will prompt a great many more people to switch to Apple Passwords.

“I just cancelled my renewal coming up in April.”
“It’s time to go. No reason for subscriptions! Bye bye!”
“Looks like I have a subscription to cancel.”
“Dropping like a stone! That’s nuts! Moving to Apple.”
“Absolutely sick of being ripped off by subscription software & do my best to avoid it. The iOS Passwords app is more than ample for my needs. Bye bye 1Password!”

How to switch

Fortunately, it’s very easy to switch from a third‑party password manager to Apple Passwords, and this is true of 1Password. All you have to do is export your database from 1Password and then import it into Passwords.

Export your passwords from 1Password

1. Open and unlock the 1Password app on your Mac.
2. From the menu bar, File > Export and select the account you want to export.
3. Enter your account password.
4. When asked to choose a format, choose CSV and select Export Data.
5. Choose where to save the CSV file and click Open.

(If you’re using 1Password 7 instead of 1Password 8, you can find instructions here.)

Import your passwords into Apple Passwords

1. Open the Passwords app and authenticate.
2. From the menu bar, File > Import passwords from file.
3. Select the CSV file you exported.

Securely delete the CSV file

Immediately delete the CSV file after the import. If you have anything in your Trash you might need to retrieve, empty the Trash right away.

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Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash