How to Switch from 1Password to Apple Passwords: A Complete Guide

A password manager used to be one of the most important third-party apps anyone could have. It was the thing that 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 would be both weak and easy to guess by anyone who knew them. A frankly terrifying number of non-techies still do this today.

Terrifying because it means 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 and hackers get access to logins for any website, they will immediately run automated processes to try those same logins against high-value targets like financial services companies and Apple accounts.

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

More people switching to Apple Passwords

Apple has long provided a built-in password manager of sorts in the form of Keychain, which later evolved into iCloud Keychain. It worked reasonably well, but third-party password 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 me to make the switch – and I know many of you did the same. I've been using it ever since and haven't found any downsides.

1Password yesterday announced steep price increases, with individual plans rising from $35.88 to $47.88 per year and family plans increasing from $59.88 to $71.88. From reader comments, it sounds like this will be the prompt for 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. Below are the instructions for Mac, but you can also do it on the iPhone.

Export your passwords from 1Password

1. Open and unlock the 1Password app on your Mac
2. From the menubar, 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 you want to export your 1Password data and select 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 menubar, File > Import passwords from file
3. Select the CSV file

Securely delete the CSV file

Remember to immediately delete the CSV file after import! Unless you have anything in your wastebasket you might need to retrieve, it's strongly recommended to empty your wastebasket immediately afterwards.

Why make the switch?

The main reason people are switching is the cost. Apple Passwords is completely free and comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. It offers:

• Strong password generation
• Autofill across apps and websites
• Secure notes and passkeys
• End-to-end encryption via iCloud
• Cross-device syncing through iCloud
• Integration with Face ID/Touch ID

For most users, this covers all the essential features without the subscription cost.

What about 1Password's advantages?

1Password does offer some features that Apple Passwords doesn't:

• Cross-platform support (Windows, Android, Linux)
• Travel mode for border crossings
• Advanced team/business features
• More detailed security reports
• Custom categories and fields

However, for personal use on Apple devices, Apple Passwords provides everything most people need.

Final thoughts

The migration process is straightforward and the benefits are clear: you get a capable password manager without the ongoing subscription cost. Given that Apple Passwords has matured significantly, it's now a viable alternative for anyone looking to save money while maintaining strong security practices.

If you're on the fence about switching, the recent price increases from 1Password might be the nudge you need to try Apple's built-in solution. You can always export your data back if you find it doesn't meet your needs – but most users find it does the job perfectly well.