How to Export Accounts from Google

Exporting your accounts from Google lets you download a copy of your saved passwords, contacts, and other account data for backup or transfer to another password manager or service. This guide walks you through the main export options—Google Takeout for a full archive and Google Password Manager for just your saved logins—and explains what you need before you start.

What You’ll Need

• A Google account you can sign in to.
• Access to the email address associated with the account (for verification).
• For password export: your Google account password and, if enabled, two-step verification.
• Enough storage space on your computer or cloud drive for the downloaded files (a full Takeout archive can be several GB).

Step-by-Step

Export Saved Passwords from Google Password Manager

1. Open passwords.google.com in a desktop browser and sign in with your Google account.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner.
3. Scroll to the Export passwords section and click Export.
4. Google will ask you to re-enter your account password to confirm it’s you. If you have two-step verification enabled, complete that prompt as well.
5. Click Export again. Your browser will download a file named passwords.csv to your default Downloads folder.
6. Open the CSV in a spreadsheet app to review it. It contains columns for the website URL, username, and password.

Export All Google Data (Contacts, Email, Drive Files) via Google Takeout

1. Go to takeout.google.com and sign in with the Google account you want to export.
2. By default, all Google services are selected. To export only specific data (like Contacts or Gmail), click Deselect all, then check the boxes next to the services you want.
3. Scroll down and click Next step.
4. Choose your export settings:
   • File type: .zip (recommended) or .tgz.
   • Frequency: Export once (for a one-time download) or every 2 months for 1 year (for automatic backups).
   • Target: Send download link via email, add to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box.
5. Click Create export. Google will start preparing your archive. This can take from a few minutes to several days, depending on how much data you have.
6. When the archive is ready, you’ll get an email with a download link. Click the link, sign in if prompted, and download the file.
7. Extract the downloaded ZIP file. You’ll find your data organized in folders (e.g., Contacts/ for vCard files, Mail/ for MBOX files).

Export Contacts Directly (Without Takeout)

1. Go to contacts.google.com and sign in.
2. Click Export on the left sidebar (if you don’t see it, click the hamburger menu).
3. Choose which contacts to export (all or a specific group).
4. Select the format: Google CSV (for importing back into Google), Outlook CSV (for other email clients), or vCard (for most address books).
5. Click Export. The file downloads to your computer.

Common Mistakes

• Not re-entering your password for password export: Google requires this for security. If you skip it, the export button won’t work.
• Downloading the CSV to a shared computer: The passwords file is plain text. Save it somewhere private and delete it after you’ve imported it elsewhere.
• Choosing too many services in Takeout: Selecting everything can create a massive archive that takes hours to prepare and download. Be selective.
• Forgetting to check the email for the Takeout link: The download link expires after a few days. If you miss it, you’ll need to start a new export.
• Opening the CSV in a text editor instead of a spreadsheet: It will look like a jumble of commas. Use Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc for readability.

Tips

• Before exporting passwords, make sure you know your Google account password. If you’ve forgotten it, reset it first—you’ll need it for the export.
• Use Google Takeout to create a full backup of your account at least once a year. It’s a good habit for data safety.
• If you’re moving to a new password manager, most of them have an import option for CSV files. Check the target app’s documentation for the exact format it expects.
• For contacts, the vCard format is the most universally compatible. Use it if you’re not sure which to pick.
• When exporting to Google Drive as the target, the archive will count against your storage quota. Make sure you have enough space.

Troubleshooting

• Export passwords button is grayed out: This happens if you’re not signed in to your Google account, or if you’re using a managed (work/school) account where the admin has disabled password export. Try signing out and back in, or contact your admin.
• Takeout archive never finishes: Large accounts can take days. Check your email for a notification. If it’s been over a week, try deselecting some large services (like Drive or Photos) and export them separately.
• Download link expired: Go back to takeout.google.com, click Manage exports, and create a new export. This time, choose a shorter list of services or a smaller frequency.
• CSV file won’t open: If the file has a .csv extension but appears garbled, try importing it into a spreadsheet via File → Import instead of double-clicking. If it’s still unreadable, the file may be corrupted; re-export it.
• Contacts export shows an error: Make sure you’re not trying to export more than 100,000 contacts at once. Split your export by groups if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does exporting passwords from Google remove them from my account?

No. Exporting creates a copy; your saved passwords remain in your Google account until you delete them manually.

Can I export passwords on my phone?

Yes, but only through the mobile browser version of passwords.google.com. The Google Password Manager app itself doesn’t have an export option. The steps are the same as on desktop.

What is the difference between CSV and vCard for contacts?

CSV is a spreadsheet format that works well with email clients like Outlook. vCard (.vcf) is a contact-card format that preserves more details (like photos and custom fields) and is better for transferring between address books.

Will Google Takeout include my saved passwords?

No. Google Takeout does not include passwords from Google Password Manager. You must export those separately using the passwords export option.

How long does a Google Takeout export take?

It depends on the amount of data. Small accounts may take a few minutes; large accounts with many Drive files or emails can take several hours or even days. You’ll receive an email when it’s ready.

Can I export data from a Google Workspace (work/school) account?

Yes, but your administrator may restrict exports. If you don’t see the export options, contact your IT admin. They can enable the feature for your organization.

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