Microsoft Edge ships with a built-in password manager at Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password Manager that exports and imports credentials as CSV files. Export produces a plaintext CSV - anyone who opens the file reads every saved username and password - so delete the file immediately after use and never sync it to cloud storage or send it by email. Import works two ways: pull in a Passwords CSV file (useful for migrating from LastPass, 1Password, or another tool that exports CSV) or import directly from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Internet Explorer without creating a CSV. Edge authenticates the export with Windows Hello, a PIN, or your device password, and flags duplicates on import by comparing website URLs and usernames. On managed devices, administrator policy may hide the export option. This guide covers the full round trip and finishes with secure cleanup and verification.
Before you start
What you will learn
- You will export your saved Microsoft Edge passwords to a CSV file, import credentials from a CSV file or directly from another browser, and then securely delete the plaintext export.
- Moving credentials cleanly between browsers or password managers saves hours of manual re-entry, and handling the plaintext CSV correctly prevents a credential leak. It also gives you a backup path before major changes to a device.
Requirements
- Sign-in access to the Windows or macOS account running Microsoft Edge, and the ability to authenticate with Windows Hello, a PIN, or your device/account password when Edge prompts during export. On managed devices you may also need administrator help if password export or the password manager is restricted by policy.
- Standard user of the local Windows/macOS account with Edge signed in
- IT administrator (only if password export or the Password Manager is disabled by policy)
Good to know
- About 10-15 minutes
- Steps reflect the desktop Microsoft Password Manager UI in Microsoft Edge on Windows; menu labels may vary slightly by version.
Quick answer
Open Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password Manager. Use the three-dot menu next to Passwords to Export passwords (authenticate with Windows Hello/PIN/password) to a CSV. To import, go to Settings > Profiles > Import browser data and choose a Passwords CSV file or a source browser. Delete the plaintext CSV immediately after use.
Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password ManagerStep-by-step tutorial
5 stepsAccess Microsoft Edge Password Manager
Open the central hub where saved credentials are managed.
Edge Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password ManagerOpen Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner, then select Settings.
In the left sidebar, click Passwords and autofill, then select Microsoft Password Manager. This is the central hub for saved credentials, and both the export and import controls live here or under Profiles.
You can also jump straight there by typing edge://settings/passwords in the address bar and pressing Enter.
edge://settings/passwordsOn managed or corporate devices, policy may restrict the password manager and its export control - see the export step below if options are missing.
Export Passwords to a CSV File
Create a plaintext CSV backup of saved credentials.
Microsoft Password Manager > Passwords ⋯ > Export passwordsOn the Microsoft Password Manager page, find the Passwords section and click the three-dot menu (⋯) next to it, then select Export passwords.
In the Export passwords dialog, click Export. Edge prompts you to authenticate with Windows Hello, your PIN, or your computer password before the file is written.
Choose a secure location and use a descriptive filename such as Edge_Passwords_Backup_2026-03-12.csv so you can track when the export was created. Save the file to a local, access-controlled folder - never to a shared or cloud-synced location.
Warning: The exported CSV stores every password in plain text. Anyone who opens the file reads all credentials. Treat it as highly sensitive and delete it as soon as you are done (see the final step).
Import Passwords from a CSV File
Bring credentials from a CSV file into Edge.
Edge Settings > Profiles > Import browser data > Other import locations > Import passwords nowGo to Settings > Profiles and click Import browser data.
Under Other import locations, click the Import button next to Import passwords now.
In the Import from dropdown, select Passwords CSV file. Click Choose file, browse to your CSV, select it, and click Open.
Edge reads the file and merges the credentials into the password manager, flagging duplicates automatically. This same CSV path imports exports from third-party managers such as LastPass or 1Password.
The CSV must use a header format Edge recognizes (url, username, password). Exports from other password managers may need to be re-saved in that column layout before Edge will accept them.
Import Passwords from Another Browser
Migrate credentials directly from Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer.
Edge Settings > Profiles > Import browser data > Import fromGo to Settings > Profiles > Import browser data.
Select your source browser from the Import from dropdown. Edge supports:
- Google Chrome (Windows 7, 8, 10, 11; macOS)
- Mozilla Firefox (Windows 7, 8, 10, 11; macOS)
- Internet Explorer (Windows systems)
Check the Saved passwords option (and any other data you want to bring over), then click Import. Direct browser import skips the CSV step, so no plaintext file is created.
The source browser must be installed on the same device. Available sources vary by operating system - for example, Internet Explorer only appears on Windows.
Securely Delete the CSV and Verify
Remove the plaintext export and confirm passwords work.
File Explorer > select CSV > Shift+Delete; Microsoft Password Manager to verifyOnce your import is confirmed, delete any exported CSV file immediately. Select the file and press Shift + Delete to remove it permanently instead of sending it to the Recycle Bin.
When prompted, confirm the permanent deletion by clicking Yes (or OK).
Empty the Recycle Bin so the file cannot be recovered, then open Microsoft Password Manager to verify the credentials are present. Visit 2-3 websites and confirm Edge auto-fills the imported usernames and passwords correctly.
Pro tip: If the file was ever copied to cloud storage, email, or a backup, delete those copies too - a single leaked CSV exposes every credential in plain text.
Confirming the Export, Import, and Cleanup Worked
At this point you have a plaintext CSV export of your Edge credentials, an import of credentials into Edge (from a CSV file or another browser), and the exported CSV securely deleted. To confirm the configuration end to end, open Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password Manager and review the saved password list. Imported entries appear with their website names and usernames, and Edge shows a confirmation notification stating the exact number of passwords imported. Because CSV import merges credentials and skips duplicates by matching URL and username, the total you see may be lower than the number of rows in your source file - that is expected, not a failure. Test autofill on two or three sites to confirm the credentials are usable, and verify the exported CSV no longer exists on disk or in the Recycle Bin.
- The Password Manager list shows your imported credentials, Edge displayed a confirmation with a non-zero import count, autofill works on the sites you tested, and the exported CSV file is gone from both its save location and the Recycle Bin.
- The import count is 0 or far lower than expected, imported entries are missing or show blank usernames, autofill does not populate on tested sites, or the CSV file still exists. A count lower than the source row total is often duplicates being skipped; a count of 0 usually means the CSV was malformed or the wrong file/format was selected.
- Edge reports the number of credentials merged after a CSV or browser import; duplicates are excluded from this count.
- A dated, descriptive name makes the plaintext export easy to identify so you delete the correct file immediately after use.
- Confirms imported credentials are stored correctly and usable, not just listed in Password Manager.
- Confirms the plaintext file was permanently removed and cannot be recovered by an unauthorized user.
Troubleshooting
The Export passwords option is missing or greyed out.
Cause: On managed or corporate devices, an administrator may have disabled password export through the PasswordExportEnabled policy (Group Policy / MDM).
If you manage the device, check the Edge policy for PasswordExportEnabled in Group Policy or your MDM console and enable it, then restart Edge. On a work device you do not administer, request the change from your IT team rather than attempting to bypass it.
Windows Hello, PIN, or password authentication fails during export.
Cause: Export requires OS-level verification. A missing or misconfigured Windows Hello enrollment, or a signed-in profile mismatch, can block the prompt.
Confirm you are signed in to Windows with the account tied to Edge, and that at least one Windows Hello method (PIN, fingerprint, or account password) is set up in Windows Settings. Re-enroll the PIN if the prompt loops, then retry the export.
CSV import reports fewer passwords than expected or shows errors.
Cause: The CSV column headers do not match the format Edge expects, or rows contain malformed entries, so Edge skips them.
Open the CSV and confirm it uses the standard columns (url, username, password) exported by a browser or password manager. Remove blank or malformed rows, save as UTF-8 CSV, and import again. Edge also skips exact duplicates by design, which can explain a lower count.
Imported passwords do not autofill on websites.
Cause: The stored URL for an entry does not match the site's actual login domain, or autofill is disabled in Edge settings.
Open Settings > Passwords and autofill and confirm autofill/save is enabled. In Microsoft Password Manager, open the affected entry and correct the website URL so it matches the login page domain, then reload the site and test.
The exported CSV cannot be fully removed and may still be recoverable.
Cause: A standard delete leaves the file in the Recycle Bin, and copies may exist in Downloads, cloud-sync folders, or temp locations.
Use Shift + Delete to bypass the Recycle Bin, then empty the Recycle Bin. Check that no copy remains in Downloads or any folder synced to OneDrive/cloud storage, and delete those copies too.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to export passwords from Microsoft Edge to CSV format?
The export process requires Windows Hello, PIN, or your account password, but the resulting CSV stores every credential in plain text with no encryption. Anyone who opens the file reads all your passwords, so delete it immediately after use and never place it in cloud storage or email.
Can I import passwords from LastPass or 1Password into Microsoft Edge?
Yes. Export your credentials from LastPass, 1Password, or another manager to a CSV file, then import that file through Settings > Profiles > Import browser data and select Passwords CSV file. Delete the exported CSV once the import completes.
Why can't I see the Export passwords option in Microsoft Edge?
The option is usually hidden when a device is managed and the PasswordExportEnabled policy has been disabled by an administrator, which is common on corporate machines. If you administer the device you can adjust the policy in Group Policy or MDM; otherwise contact your IT department.
What happens to duplicate passwords when importing into Microsoft Edge?
Edge compares website URLs and usernames during import and skips exact duplicates to avoid conflicts, which is why the imported count may be lower than the number of rows in your CSV. If an existing entry has an outdated password, review and update it manually in Microsoft Password Manager after the import.
How do I verify that my password import was successful in Microsoft Edge?
Edge shows a confirmation notification with the exact number of passwords imported, and you can review the full list under Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password Manager. Confirm the URLs and usernames look correct, then test autofill on two or three sites to be sure the credentials work.
