Child Item

I'm getting an error exporting my Dropbox Passwords CSV file into Apple Keychain

Now that dropbox passwords is being shutdown, there needs to be a possibility to export all passwords into apple keychain. Currently, I'm getting an error message when trying to import the exported password into the keychain, stating that:

"Keychain was unable to import passwords from the CSV file because it is missing column labels.

If you exported this file from a password manager, you should export a new file with different settings and try importing again."

Application Affected
Dropbox Passwords
Device
MacBook Air
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
OSX Sequoia / Safari
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
N/A

Find more posts tagged with

Passwords

Accepted answers

Neal

Hi @Mattsson,

That's an issue with Apple's importer, to be honest, CSV export is a semi-standardized way to transfer credentials between password managers, but ultimately, it's a "best effort" approach.

The simple answer is that an easy migration to Apple Keychain is probably not possible. If you wants to switch to Apple Keychain nonetheless, the best I can think of is to:

Rename the columns as outlined as I mentioned previously.
Remove any rows that have special characters in them and add them to Keychain after the import, manually.

All comments

Mattsson

There seems so be a discrepancy between the titles/names/definitions of the different tags between the two systems. When I tried to "rename" the titles/names/definitions-row in the Passwords-exported CSV-file so it matched the equivalent in an exported Keychain CSV-file, I still get an error message that the passwords can't be imported but no further definition as to why.

Jay

Hi @Mattsson, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

After some brief research, I can see that there are similar errors from other password providers when trying to import CSV files into Keychain.

As this error message appears to be related to Apple Keychain, and isn't related to Dropbox, I'd recommend checking with Apple Support for the correct format used to import a CSV file from another password provider.

In the meantime, if you have any further queries, feel free to message back.

Dell_Dropbox

To add to Jay's response about checking with Apple Support, have you checked out this thread?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255759674?sortBy=rank

Mattsson

Hi Jay!

well, I would consider this to be a Dropbox issue as other password-imports to Keychain doesn’t seem to have this issue. Also, to apply the google-mindset to this, if your users have an issue which contains your service (regardless if it’s a service you’ve decided to discontinue), it’s YOUR issue.

so let’s try on both our ends to find the solution to this topic rather than pushing in onto the users to fix for you, shall we? ☺️

TilmanM

@Jay – Since many users (myself included) will be switching to Apple Keychain due to your company’s decision to discontinue the service, I’d really appreciate a clear, detailed response to this issue that’s going to affect every user.

@ DF-Dropbox: I found this thread via Google, but unfortunately, the suggestions are too superficial to help. I’ll admit I’m not very familiar with Excel or Numbers, so the explanations go over my head. A step-by-step guide or a more beginner-friendly approach would be much appreciated

Mattsson

Hey!

I have read it but it tackles a now non-existent problem as the dividers are commas and not semi-colons.

@Jay - a simple button as has been made for 1password would be the best solution. I doubt your partner will object to you guys adhering to the needs/requests of your users.

Dell_Dropbox

@Mattsson that's a fair request, and thanks for bringing this feedback to our attention. I'll share this thread with the relevant teams so this can be explored.

Spearmint

Thank you for posting this.
I am facing the same problem importing into Apple passwords and I echo this request, I found this via google search. Please let us know what to do.

Also the exported csv loses all non-ascii characters which causes a problem for exporting the info stored on dropbox passwords in other languages

AngelSoto

Hi everyone,

I was fiddling with this after seeing your post, trying to figure it out. It turns out very "simple".

Just open the .csv file with TextEdit you just exported from Dropbox Passwords and change the column titles (the first ones you will see, don't bother scrolling to your password data) and make them match the Apple Keychain .csv format (I just exported one .csv and checked).

Once the columns of the .csv match, the import works (I still have to check if there where any errors in any of the keys), but seems to be fine.

Apple Keychain columns are:
Title,URL,Username,Password,Notes,OTPAuth

I hope this works for you guys as well!

Mattsson

Hi Angelsoto!

I tried the exact same thing but still received an error message. Additionally, the export from Passwords still can’t handle special characters (as mentioned here in one of the replies) which creates import problems into Keychain as well.

so it’s a nice solution, but Dropbox still needs to iron out this thing so users can export to Keychain without issues.

TilmanM

I tried it, and I think it worked, my Passwords are in Keychain now. Thank you very much for explaining it

Neal

Hi @Mattsson,

Can you try renaming the CSV columns? Specifically, you should change the headers from The Dropbox format:

title
website
login
password
notes
otpSecret

to the Apple format:

Title
URL
Username
Password
Notes
OTPAuth

In my test, just changing website to URL was already enough — it seems like that’s the field Apple can’t handle properly.

jlowe

I tried this and it gave another error about missing columns.

I'm concerned that, with a deadline looming, this isn't being truly addressed so many users can export to Apple Keychain smoothly.

KariGrethe

Thank you @AngelSoto this worked perfectly!

Mattsson

Hi @Neal!

Thanks for the suggestion. I did already try that and I'm still getting an error message, though a fairly unspecific one (it says that Keychain is unable to import the file/passwords).

I do think that this relates to the fact that, when exporting from Passwords, special characters such as i.e. "å, ä, ö" (which we use in Sweden) are not being exported properly which in turn creates importation issues.

Mattsson

Slight update: I just manually edited all the passwords I'd saved where there are special characters involved and I STILL get the same error message. So that's not the issue, but the issue remains.

Neal

Hi @Mattsson,

That's an issue with Apple's importer, to be honest, CSV export is a semi-standardized way to transfer credentials between password managers, but ultimately, it's a "best effort" approach.

The simple answer is that an easy migration to Apple Keychain is probably not possible. If you wants to switch to Apple Keychain nonetheless, the best I can think of is to:

Rename the columns as outlined as I mentioned previously.
Remove any rows that have special characters in them and add them to Keychain after the import, manually.

aarlowne

i tried exporting a CSV from Apple Passwords and importing it back in — it doesn’t even work. Pretty sure the importer’s broken, and there are already people complaining about it in the Apple Support Community. super frustrating.

i can only add them manually (which im not planning to) so i guess i just have to migrate to another password manager.

turnera61

@Jay What a pathetic answer. Dropbox shuts down its password application and does not provide a native export for one of the most populate vaults.
If this is how dropbox treats its users, I am closing my account.

Mattsson

I tried the first thing, didn’t work as the second thing blocks the import. And regarding the “‘manual input”, it just shows how HORRIBLE the thought and follow-through process at Dropbox has been regarding this whole thing.

terrible and insufficient handling.

Neal

Hi @Mattsson,

I completely understand the frustration. As @aarlowne mentioned, this may very well be an issue with Apple's importer as they exported directly out of Keychain and were not able to import that very same CSV back into Keychain.

Have you considered 1Password? I've seen many users successfully migrate their credentials to their platform.

I know none of this is the answer you're hoping to hear and I'm truly sorry about that.