LastPass, why do you have to do this to us?
James Martin / CNET
If you are using the LastPass password manager, you certainly saw the news that as of March 16, if you want to sync and access your passwords on various types of devices, you will have to start paying for the service. That’s right, it is no longer completely free to use LastPass on your computer and phone – you will only have to choose one device. I can’t tell you how many devices are synchronized with my password manager of choice – it’s a must-have feature for any password manager. After the announcement, LastPass found itself on the hot seat after web crawlers were found in the app, possibly giving you one more reason to leave the service.
Read More: LastPass vs. 1Password: Which password manager should you use?
If you don’t want to pay LastPass $ 36 a year for a personal account, or $ 48 a year for a family account, then you will need to deal with the new limitation or find a new one. different password manager.
The easiest way to move from one password manager to another is to export your information from LastPass and then import it into your new software selection.
Next, I’ll show you a few different ways to get your information from LastPass and then walk you through importing it into another application. I chose Bitwarden for this example, a password manager completely free.
Exporting your passwords from your LastPass accounting
The easiest way to export your LastPass login credentials is to use the browser extension, not the website. I will include instructions for both, but believe me, extension is the way to go.
Open the browser of your choice and click on the LastPass extension. Enter your master password, if prompted. Then select Account options in the drop-down menu followed by Advanced > Export > LastPass CSV file. Enter your master password when prompted.
Use the extension to export your information. It’s easier.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani / CNET
Your browser will download a file called lastpass_export.csv. I suggest moving the file from the Downloads folder to the Desktop to make it easier to find when importing it into a new service.
If you prefer to use the site to export all of your information from LastPass, the process is similar, but instead of downloading a CSV file, you will have to create your own. After logging into your account at LastPass.com, Click in advanced options in the bottom left corner of the page. Click Export then enter your master password when prompted.
LastPass will generate a CSV list with all your information and display it on your browser tab. Depending on the password manager you are moving to, you can leave this tab open and copy / paste the information into the import tool, or you will need to create your own CSV file.
To do this, you’ll need to copy the text displayed in the browser and paste it into an application like Numbers on a Mac or Excel on a PC (or Mac). If you do not have access to Excel on a PC, you can use the Notepad application. No matter what application you just used, make sure to save or export the file as a CSV file. In Notepad, for example, this means that you need to go to File > Save as and add “.csv” to the end of the file name. Save the new CSV file to your desktop and give it a name like “Lastpass_export.csv” for easy identification.
It is important to remember that this file now has all your account logins in plain text. Do not share it with anyone, and I would even recommend deleting the file after importing and verifying that all of your information is correct in your new password manager account.
Bitwarden makes it easy to bring your LastPass credentials with you.
Screenshot of Jason Cipriani / CNET
Importing your information to another service
The import process varies depending on the password manager you switch to. There are many paid options available and we have a summary of the best password managers that break down the differences and the details of each one. It is in the process of being updated based on LastPass news, but information about services such as 1Password will still be accurate.
Realizing that LastPass users are looking to abandon the boat, most password managers have posted blog posts with instructions showing how to import their information. For example, 1Password has a guide, as do Dashlane and Keeper Security.
If you want to maintain a free password manager, Bitwarden is the way to go. CNET Senior Editor Rick Broida explains your reasoning for going with Bitwarden now that LastPass is switching to a paid service.
Bitwarden also posted instructions to import its LastPass account.
To get started, create a Bitwarden.com account. After logging in, click on Tools button at the top of the page and select Import data.
Use the drop-down menu to select the format of your file, which if you come from LastPass will be LastPass (csv). Then select the LastPass file you created and download it to your computer, or you can copy and paste the text into the LastPass export tab if you used the site. Finally, click Import data.
If you are not using a password manager, you really should start. It creates, stores and fills complex passwords in applications or websites without forcing you to remember or type them manually. Another way to increase the security of your account is to enable two-factor authentication for any and all accounts that support it (most password managers support storing your one-time passwords and even enter them.)