How to Import Passwords into Dashlane: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

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Why Import Passwords into Dashlane?

Migrating to a new password manager can feel daunting, especially when you have dozens—or hundreds—of saved credentials. Dashlane makes this process straightforward by supporting imports from major browsers, competing password managers, and generic CSV files. Whether you’re switching from LastPass, 1Password, or Chrome’s built-in password storage, you can consolidate all your credentials in Dashlane without manually entering each one.

This guide covers the exact steps for importing passwords into Dashlane across different sources, the file formats Dashlane accepts, and solutions for common errors you might encounter.

Before You Start: What You Need to Know

Supported Import Sources

Dashlane currently supports direct imports from:

  • Google Chrome (including Chromium-based browsers like Edge, Brave, Vivaldi)
  • LastPass
  • 1Password
  • Bitwarden
  • CSV files (comma-separated values)
  • KeePass
  • Password-protected browsers (Firefox, Safari via CSV export)

Supported File Formats

Dashlane accepts the following formats:

  • .csv – Plain text comma-separated values
  • .json – JSON format (from certain sources like 1Password)
  • .pif – Password import format (LastPass exports)

Important Preliminary Steps

  • Ensure you have Dashlane installed and an active account
  • Back up your current passwords before importing (recommended safety measure)
  • Close other browser instances to avoid conflicts
  • Ensure your source password manager is fully accessible

Method 1: Import Passwords from Google Chrome

Chrome stores passwords locally, making it one of the simplest sources to import from. This method works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Step 1: Open Dashlane Settings

  1. Launch Dashlane on your computer
  2. Click your Profile Icon in the top-right corner
  3. Select Settings
  4. Navigate to Data in the left sidebar
  5. Click Import Data

Step 2: Select Chrome as Source

  1. Click Import passwords
  2. Choose Google Chrome from the list of available sources
  3. Dashlane will display the number of passwords it detected in Chrome

Step 3: Authorize Access (Windows Users)

On Windows, you may see a UAC (User Account Control) prompt asking for administrator permissions. This is normal—Dashlane needs elevated privileges to access Chrome’s encrypted password storage.

  1. Click Yes on the permission dialog
  2. Enter your Windows username and password if prompted
  3. Wait for Dashlane to decrypt and read Chrome’s password database

Step 4: Review and Confirm Import

  1. Dashlane will show a preview of the passwords to import
  2. Review the list for accuracy
  3. Click Import to complete the process
  4. Wait for the progress bar to finish—this typically takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on password count

Mac and Linux Considerations

On Mac, you may be prompted for your system password to allow Dashlane to access Chrome’s Keychain. On Linux, ensure you have appropriate file permissions in your Chrome profile directory.

Method 2: Import Passwords from LastPass

LastPass has a well-documented export process. You’ll need to export your passwords as an encrypted file first, then import into Dashlane.

Step 1: Export Passwords from LastPass

  1. Log into your LastPass account (lastpass.com)
  2. Click your account name in the top-right corner
  3. Select Account Settings
  4. Click the Advanced tab
  5. Select Export
  6. You’ll see two options:
    • Export to CSV – Creates an unencrypted file (less secure)
    • Export to LastPass Encrypted Format (.pif) – Creates an encrypted export (recommended)
  7. Choose the encrypted option if available
  8. Re-enter your LastPass master password when prompted
  9. Save the file to a location you can easily find

Step 2: Import into Dashlane

  1. Open Dashlane and go to Settings > Data > Import Data
  2. Click Import passwords
  3. Select LastPass from the source list (if using .pif format) or CSV File (if using CSV export)
  4. Browse and select your exported LastPass file
  5. If importing a .pif file, enter your LastPass master password when prompted
  6. Review the preview of passwords to be imported
  7. Click Import

Security Note for CSV Exports

If you use LastPass’s CSV export, the file contains unencrypted passwords. After importing into Dashlane, immediately delete the CSV file from your computer to prevent unauthorized access.

Method 3: Import Passwords from 1Password

1Password supports multiple export formats. The .json format is preferred for Dashlane imports.

Step 1: Export from 1Password

  1. Open 1Password on your desktop
  2. Click Vaults in the sidebar
  3. Right-click on the vault you want to export (usually “Personal”)
  4. Select Export Vault
  5. Choose JSON as the export format
  6. Select where to save the file
  7. 1Password will encrypt the file for security during export
  8. You may need to authenticate with your 1Password master password

Step 2: Import into Dashlane

  1. Go to Dashlane Settings > Data > Import Data
  2. Click Import passwords
  3. Select 1Password or CSV File depending on your export format
  4. Browse and select your 1Password export file
  5. Dashlane may ask you to enter your 1Password master password to decrypt the JSON file
  6. Review the import preview
  7. Click Import

Important: Handle Attachments Separately

1Password exports may include secure attachments (documents, images, etc.). Dashlane will import the password records but not the attachments. You’ll need to manually transfer any critical documents separately.

Method 4: Import from CSV File

CSV import is the most flexible option if your password source isn’t directly supported. This method works for Firefox, Safari, KeePass, and custom password lists.

Step 1: Export Your Passwords as CSV

The process varies by source:

  • Firefox: Use the “Password Exporter” extension, then save as CSV
  • Safari: Export via iCloud Keychain or third-party tools
  • KeePass: Right-click database > Export > CSV
  • Others: Look for “Export” options in Settings or preferences

Step 2: Ensure Proper CSV Format

Dashlane expects CSV files with the following column structure (at minimum):

Column Name Required? Example
url Yes https://www.gmail.com
username Yes john.doe@gmail.com
password Yes MySecure!Pass123
title No Gmail
notes No Personal email account

If your CSV has different column names: You can rename them before importing, or Dashlane will prompt you to map columns during import.

Step 3: Clean Your CSV (Highly Recommended)

Before importing:

  1. Open the CSV in a text editor or spreadsheet application
  2. Remove any duplicate entries
  3. Delete test accounts or deprecated passwords
  4. Ensure all URLs are properly formatted (include http:// or https://)
  5. Check for special characters that might cause parsing errors
  6. Save the cleaned file

Step 4: Import CSV into Dashlane

  1. Open Dashlane Settings > Data > Import Data
  2. Click Import passwords
  3. Select CSV File from the source list
  4. Click Browse and select your CSV file
  5. Dashlane will scan the file and display a preview
  6. If column names don’t match exactly, you’ll see a mapping screen:
    • Dashlane will attempt to auto-match columns
    • Verify each mapping is correct
    • Use the dropdown menus to manually correct any misalignments
  7. Click Next or Import to proceed
  8. Review the final preview and confirm

Troubleshooting Common Import Errors

Error: “Access Denied” or “Permission Denied”

Cause: Dashlane doesn’t have permission to read your source password manager or file.

Solutions:

  • Restart both Dashlane and your browser
  • Ensure you’re logged into your source password manager
  • Run Dashlane as Administrator (Windows)
  • Check file permissions on your CSV (should be readable)
  • Temporarily disable antivirus software (it may block file access)

Error: “No Passwords Found”

Cause: Dashlane can’t locate passwords in your source.

Solutions:

  • Verify you’re attempting to import from the correct browser/app profile
  • Ensure passwords are actually saved in your source (not just autofilled)
  • For Chrome, check that you’re using the same user profile you saved passwords in
  • For CSV, confirm the file contains data in the expected format

Error: “Invalid File Format”

Cause: Your CSV or export file has formatting issues.

Solutions:

  • Open your CSV in a text editor (not Excel) to check for formatting problems
  • Ensure the file uses standard CSV structure (comma-separated values)
  • Remove any hidden characters or encoding issues (save as UTF-8)
  • Verify headers are in the first row
  • Try re-exporting from your source with different settings

Error: “Some Passwords Failed to Import”

Cause: Individual password records had issues.

Solutions:

  • Review the error report Dashlane provides (lists which entries failed)
  • Manually add any failed entries after import completes
  • Check for missing required fields (URL, username, or password)
  • Verify special characters in passwords aren’t causing encoding issues

Post-Import Best Practices

Verify Your Imported Data

After successfully importing:

  1. Go to your Dashlane Vault and spot-check several imported passwords
  2. Test logging into a few accounts to confirm credentials are correct
  3. Check that URLs are properly associated with passwords
  4. Verify sensitive notes were imported if applicable

Remove Sensitive Files

  1. Delete any exported CSV or password files from your computer
  2. Empty your recycle bin to prevent recovery of sensitive data
  3. If using a Mac, use Secure Empty Trash

Update Your Security Settings

  1. Review imported passwords for strength in Dashlane’s Security Dashboard
  2. Update weak passwords (Dashlane can generate strong replacements)
  3. Remove any duplicate accounts
  4. Set up two-factor authentication for critical accounts (Gmail, banking, etc.)

Disable the Old Password Manager

  1. Once you’ve verified all passwords imported correctly, disable autofill in your old password manager
  2. This prevents confusion and ensures Dashlane is your single source of truth
  3. Keep the old account active for a few weeks in case you need to reference anything

Final Thoughts

Importing passwords into Dashlane is a straightforward process whether you’re coming from Chrome, LastPass, 1Password, or any other source. The key is following the proper export procedures for your source, ensuring file format compatibility, and verifying your data after import. Most imports complete successfully without issues, but having troubleshooting knowledge helps you navigate any edge cases quickly.

With all your passwords now centralized in Dashlane, you’ll benefit from enhanced security, easier password management, and protection against credential breaches through Dashlane’s Dark Web Monitoring feature.

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