Moving password managers is a little like moving house: the heavy lifting is deciding what to pack, not the truck. Zen Passwords is built to make that trip calmer. You import on your device, preview before you commit, and your vault stays encrypted with keys derived from your master password. Nothing gets uploaded to us for import to work.
This guide follows how Zen Passwords actually behaves today: supported export formats, where to tap in the app, and how the free tier handles large libraries.
Before you touch any export
1. Pick a calm window
Exports are sensitive files. Do them on a trusted device, on a network you trust, and when you are not rushed.
2. Keep the old app until you are happy
Import into Zen Passwords, spot-check important logins, then retire or uninstall the old manager on your own schedule.
3. Know the free tier limit
On the free plan, Zen Passwords allows a limited number of active (non-archived) items. If you import more than that, the app may keep additional items archived so you do not lose data. You can archive or delete items, or upgrade to Zen Premium, to open everything normally. Exact numbers appear in the app and App Store listing.
4. Unlock Zen Passwords first
Import runs only while the vault is unlocked. If you see an error about a locked vault, unlock with your master password (or biometrics, if you use quick unlock), then try again.
Where import lives in Zen Passwords
You can start an import from:
- Settings, under the vault tools that deal with data (look for Import from other app and related backup options).
- Home, when the vault is new or empty, the app surfaces a path to import so you are not hunting through menus on day one.
Flow in the app:
- Choose Import from other app…
- Pick the source (1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass, Chrome / Google Passwords, or Other app). This helps the file picker and expectations match your export.
- Select your export file from Files, iCloud Drive, or wherever you saved it.
- Review the preview (detected format, row counts, how many rows map cleanly).
- Confirm import and read the completion summary (items added, skipped, and any note about the free-tier cap).
Migrating from 1Password
Zen Passwords accepts .1pux, CSV, and the JSON shape produced by 1Password’s export (the importer recognizes the accounts array in that export).
Why .1pux is usually the nicest path. It is 1Password’s structured export. Zen Passwords reads the archive and maps what it can into vault items. You still get a preview before anything is written.
Rough steps on the 1Password side (wording varies by 1Password version)
- Open 1Password and use Export (or Export data) from account or settings.
- Choose a format Zen Passwords supports. Prefer .1pux if your 1Password app offers it. Otherwise use CSV or JSON as available.
- Save the file somewhere you can reach from the Files app on the same device (or transfer securely to the device where Zen Passwords runs).
- In Zen Passwords, choose 1Password as the import source, pick the file, review the preview, then import.
After import: Open a few high-value items (email, banking, primary Apple ID) and confirm URLs, usernames, and notes. 1Password’s field model is rich; Zen Passwords maps common login and card-style data. Anything odd usually shows up as skipped rows in the summary or as items you edit once by hand.
Migrating from Bitwarden
Zen Passwords accepts Bitwarden JSON (unencrypted export) and CSV.
JSON (typical for a full vault)
- In Bitwarden, export your vault. Use the JSON export option when you need structure (folders and item types are represented in the file).
- Important: Bitwarden will warn you that an unencrypted export contains all secrets in readable form. Treat the file like a password list on paper: short-lived, local, not emailed, not left in Downloads forever.
- Move the file to a location the iOS, iPadOS, or macOS Files picker can read.
- In Zen Passwords, choose Bitwarden, select the JSON file, preview, then import.
CSV (simpler, flatter)
- Export CSV from Bitwarden if you prefer a spreadsheet-style file or JSON is not available.
- Import the same way. The CSV importer looks for common column names (username, password, uri, folder, type, card fields, and others). Rows that do not map may be skipped; the preview helps set expectations.
Folders: Bitwarden folder relationships are honored where the export includes them and the importer can map them. If something lands in Unfiled, drag items into folders inside Zen Passwords afterward.
If something looks wrong
Many rows skipped
Your export may use uncommon column headers, or rows may be empty. Try another format (for example JSON instead of CSV, or .1pux instead of CSV for 1Password). Generic login-style JSON arrays are also supported for simple datasets.
“Vault locked” error
Unlock Zen Passwords, then run import again.
Free tier and archived items
If the completion message mentions items archived because of the active-item limit, that is the app protecting you from silent data loss. Archive what you do not need daily, or upgrade to Zen Premium for unlimited active items, then unarchive what matters.
Zen Passwords encrypted backups
If you already have a Zen Passwords encrypted backup file, you can merge it from the same import flow. That path is separate from 1Password or Bitwarden; it is for restoring or combining your own Zen exports.
Sync and sanity checks after import
- Optional iCloud sync. If you use iCloud, encrypted vault data can sync through your private CloudKit database tied to your Apple ID. Turn sync on only when you understand which Apple ID is active on each device. You can import on one device first, verify, then enable sync so other devices receive encrypted copies.
- Password health. Zen Passwords can analyze reuse and similar patterns on your device after import. Use it as a checklist for updating weak or duplicated passwords over time, not as a reason to panic on day one.
- Clipboard habits. After copying passwords during cleanup, consider enabling auto-clear clipboard in Settings so pasted secrets do not linger.
Mental model: what Zen Passwords is doing
- Imports are parsed and encrypted on device.
- Your master password is not sent to us to make import work.
- Preview tells you what we think we understood before you commit.
- The app is honest about skipped rows and free-tier archiving so you are not guessing.
You do not need a perfect export on the first try. You need a verified one: preview looks reasonable, import completes, and you confirm a handful of critical logins. Everything else is housekeeping.
Quick reference
Formats highlighted in-app
| Source | Formats Zen Passwords highlights in-app |
|---|---|
| 1Password | .1pux, CSV, JSON (accounts export) |
| Bitwarden | JSON, CSV |
In the app: Settings or Home import → choose source → pick file → preview → import → read the summary.
Zen Passwords is available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Features and limits evolve; always trust the in-app labels and your latest App Store description for caps and Premium details.