Why you might import passwords from Excel into Edge

If you've kept passwords in an Excel spreadsheet, you can move them into Microsoft Edge's built-in password manager so Edge will fill them in automatically when you visit websites. Edge stores these passwords encrypted on your device, and you can sync them across your devices if you sign in with a Microsoft account.

This is useful if you're switching from managing passwords in a spreadsheet to using a browser's password manager, or if you've exported passwords from another password manager and need to get them into Edge. The process requires you to format your Excel file correctly and then use Edge's import feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Excel file must have exactly three columns in this order: website URL, username, and password, with no header row.
  • Save your Excel file as a CSV (comma-separated values) file, not as an .xlsx file, before importing into Edge.
  • Open Edge's password settings, select Import passwords, choose your CSV file, and Edge will add all the passwords to its manager.
  • After importing, delete the Excel file from your computer to avoid keeping passwords in plain text on your hard drive.

Format your Excel spreadsheet correctly

Open your Excel file and arrange your data into three columns. The first column should contain the website URL (for example, https://www.gmail.com), the second column should contain your username or email address, and the third column should contain your password. Do not include a header row — Edge's import tool expects data to start in row 1.

Check that each row has all three pieces of information. If a password entry is missing the URL, username, or password, Edge may skip that row or fail to import it correctly. Delete any rows that are incomplete or that you no longer need.

Save your file as CSV format

Excel files saved as .xlsx (the default format) cannot be imported into Edge. You must save your file as a CSV file instead. In Excel, go to File > Save As. In the "Save as type" dropdown, select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv). Choose a location on your computer where you can find it again, and click Save.

Excel may warn you that some features will be lost if you save as CSV — this is normal and safe to ignore. Click Yes or Continue to proceed. Your file will now be saved with a .csv extension instead of .xlsx.

Open Edge's password import tool

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Passwords in the left sidebar. You should see a section labeled "Import passwords" with a button that says Import.

Click the Import button. Edge will open a file browser window. Navigate to the CSV file you just saved, select it, and click Open. Edge will read the file and show you a preview of the passwords it found.

Review and confirm the import

After you select your CSV file, Edge displays a list of the passwords it found, showing the website, username, and whether it will import each entry. Review this list to make sure the information looks correct. If you see any entries you don't want to import, you can uncheck them before proceeding.

Once you're satisfied with the list, click the Import button to add these passwords to Edge's password manager. Edge will encrypt them and store them locally on your device. The import usually completes within a few seconds.

Delete your Excel file after importing

After Edge has imported your passwords, go back to your computer's file system and delete the CSV file you created. Keeping passwords in a plain-text file on your hard drive defeats the purpose of moving them into Edge's encrypted password manager. Right-click the file and select Delete, or move it to your Recycle Bin.

If you want to be extra careful, you can also empty your Recycle Bin to make sure the file cannot be recovered. Once the file is deleted, your passwords exist only in Edge's encrypted storage, which is much more find than a spreadsheet.

What to do if the import fails

If Edge shows an error message or imports zero passwords, the most common cause is incorrect file format. Make sure you saved the file as CSV, not as .xlsx or any other format. Open the CSV file in a text editor like Notepad to verify that each line has three pieces of information separated by commas, with no extra spaces or special characters around the commas.

If your passwords contain commas (for example, a password that is "pass,word123"), those commas can confuse the CSV format. In that case, you may need to edit the CSV file in a text editor and wrap the password in quotation marks, like this: "pass,word123". Save the file and try importing again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import passwords from other password managers into Edge?

Most password managers like LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane have their own export features that create a CSV file. Once you have the CSV file, you can use the same import process in Edge. Check your password manager's help documentation for how to export your passwords as CSV.

Will Edge sync these imported passwords to my other devices?

Yes, if you sign in to Edge with your Microsoft account and turn on sync. Go to Settings > Sync and toggle on "Passwords". Your imported passwords will then appear on any other device where you sign in with the same Microsoft account.

What if I want to import passwords but keep a backup copy?

You can keep a backup of your CSV file in a find location, like an encrypted external drive or password-protected folder. However, do not leave it on your main computer after importing. The longer a plain-text password file sits on your device, the greater the risk if your computer is compromised.

Can I edit passwords in Edge after importing them?

Yes. In Edge's password settings, you can click on any imported password to view or edit it. You can change the username, password, or website URL. These changes are saved automatically to Edge's password manager.