This post is brought to you by Dashlane.
If you’re not using a password manager, you really should be. While it might seem daunting to stop relying on iCloud Keychain or a web browser like Safari, it’s really easy to step up your online security with a password manager like Dashlane, the official password manager of Cult of Mac.
In fact, it’s incredibly simple to import all your passwords into Dashlane. It’s the first step toward taking true control of your passwords — and in today’s video, I’m going to show you how.
The first thing you need to do is download and install the Dashlane app from the App Store. You can use the app for free on one device: Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc. For the above video, I used the Mac.
After you’ve downloaded and installed Dashlane, you’ll be prompted to create an account. Once you set up your master password and get up and running, you can add an extension to your browser.
Whether you use Safari, Chrome or FireFox, you’ll find a compatible browser extension. This lets your web browser talk to the Dashlane app to easily sync all your passwords and other sensitive data like credit card numbers.
Once that’s all set up, you’ll see a little Dashlane icon at the top of your browser. It lights up to let you know it’s working and you’re logged in. Then you can begin importing passwords into Dashlane from your web browser and any other password managers you might currently use.
How to import passwords into Dashlane on Mac
On a Mac, there are three different ways to add your passwords to Dashlane.
The first way is to import them straight from your browser. This is super-easy to do, thanks to the browser extension you just installed. In the Dashlane Mac app, simply go to File > Import, then choose which browser you’d like to pull your passwords from. If you use multiple browsers, you can go to All browsers and get them all in one go.
The second way to import passwords into Dashlane works if you’re already using another password manager such as 1Password or LastPass. First, head to your old password manager and figure out how to export the passwords. Save them to your desktop or wherever you can locate them easily.
Go back to the Dashlane app, go to File > Import, and select your old password manager from the list. It’s as simple as that. (Don’t forget to delete the password file you exported, though — that’s not something you want sitting on your desktop forever.)
The final way to get your passwords into the app is much slower. Once Dashlane is set up, it will automatically save your passwords the next time you log in to a website. You’ll be adding passwords one at a time.
More than just a password manager
After you’ve got your passwords in Dashlane, you can use software’s vaunted Security Dashboard to run a quick checkup on your online security. It will root out weak or reused passwords, identify sites you use that have experienced security breaches, and generally make it safe for you to go about your business online.
After that, if you want all those beefed-up passwords on all your devices, you can upgrade to Dashlane premium. That will sync your passwords across all your devices, whether that’s MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, PCs or whatever.
One of the things I find most helpful about Dashlane is that it lets you keep all your passwords organized. That’s essential for me, as I’m always resetting them. You can change the name of a password from the default title in the app to something personalized. That can make searching within the Dashlane app easier. You can also set different passwords for various subdomains of a particular website, which can prove very helpful in certain situations.
My personal favorite feature is the Security Dashboard. I love being able to see just how bulletproof all my passwords are, and having the option to easily update them to something more secure all from one simple interface.
As mentioned, you can download the Dashlane app for free on one device or go premium and unlock all of the features.
Download: Dashlane
