help/_articles/importing/encrypted-export.md

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layout	title	categories	featured	popular	tags	order	description
article	Encrypted Exports	import-export	true	false	import	10	This article explains how to create an encrypted export of your Vault data in the Bitwarden password manager for backup.

Vault data can be exported in an encrypted JSON file. These exports are encrypted using your account's encryption key, which are generated on account creation and unique to each Bitwarden user account.

{% callout warning %} Rotating your account's encryption key will render an Encrypted Export impossible to decrypt. If you rotate your account encryption key, replace any old files with new one that use the new encryption key.

Account Encryption Keys are unique to each Bitwarden user account, so you won't be able to import an Encrypted Export into a different account. {% endcallout %}

An Encrypted Export of the following plaintext login item:

{
      ...
      "login": {
        "username": "mylogin",
        "password": "mypassword",
        "totp": "otpauth://totp/my-secret-key"
      },
      ...

Will look something like:

{
      ...
      "login": {
        "username": "9.dZwQ+b9Zasp98dnfp[g|dHZZ1p19783bn1KzkEsA=l52bcWB/w9unvCt2zE/kCwdpiubAOf104os}",
        "password": "1o8y3oqsp8n8986HmW7qA=oiCZo872b3dbp0nzT/Pw=|A2lgso87bfDBCys049ano278ebdmTe4:",
        "totp": "2CIUxtpo870B)*^GW2ta/xb0IYyepO(*&G(&BB84LZ5ByZxu0E9hTTs6PHg0=8q5DHEPU&bp9&*bns3EYgETXpiu9898sxO78l"
      },
      ...

Create an Encrypted Export

Creating an Encrypted Export follows the normal export procedure:

• Web Vault
• Browser Extension
• Desktop
• Mobile
• CLI

{% capture web_vault %}

Export from the Web Vault

To create an encrypted export of your personal Vault data from the Web Vault:

1. Select Tools from the top navigation bar.
2. Select Export Vault from the left-hand Tools menu.
3. On the Vault Export page, choose .json (Encrypted) for the File Format.
4. Enter your Master Password and select the Export Vault button.

{% endcapture %} {{ web_vault | markdownify}}

{% capture browser_extension %}

Export from a Browser Extension

To create an encrypted export of your personal Vault data from a Browser Extension:

1. Open the {% icon fa-cogs %} Settings tab.
2. Scroll down to the Tools section and select the Export Vault option.
3. On the Export Vault view, choose .json (Encrypted) for the File Format.
4. Enter your Master Password and select Submit.

{% endcapture %} {{ browser_extension | markdownify}}

{% capture desktop_info %}

Export from Desktop

To create an encrypted export of your personal Vault data from a Desktop app:

1. From the menu bar, navigate to File → Export Vault.
2. In the Export Vault window, choose .json (Encrypted) for the File Format.
3. Enter your Master Password and select the {% icon fa-download %} Download button.

{% endcapture %} {{ desktop_info | markdownify}}

{% capture mobile_info %}

Export from Mobile

To create an encrypted export of your personal Vault data from a Mobile app:

1. Tap the {% icon fa-cogs %} Settings tab.
2. Scroll down to the Tools section and tap the Export Vault option.
3. On the Export Vault view, choose .json (Encrypted) for the File Format.
4. Enter your Master Password and tap the Export Vault button.

{% endcapture %} {{ mobile_info | markdownify}}

{% capture cli_info %}

Export from the CLI

To create an encrypted export of your personal Vault data from the CLI, use the export command with the specified option --format encrypted_json, for example:

bw export my-master-password --output /users/me/documents/ --format encrypted_json

For more detail, see our CLI documentation.

{% endcapture %} {{ cli_info | markdownify}}

Import an Encrypted Export

Importing an Encrypted Export follows the normal import procedure, which can only be done from the Web Vault{:target="_blank"}:

1. In the Web Vault, select Tools from the top navigation bar.

2. Select Import Data from the left-hand Tools menu.

3. From the format dropdown, choose Bitwarden (json).

   {% callout success %}There is no import option specifically for Encrypted Exports. A handler will determine that the .json file is encrypted and attempt to decrypt the file using your account's encryption key.{% endcallout %}

4. Select the Choose File button and add the file to import.

   {% callout warning %}Import to Bitwarden can't check whether items in the file to import are duplicative of items in your Vault. This means that importing multiple files will create duplicative Vault items if an item is already in the Vault and in the file to import.{% endcallout %}

5. Select the Import Data button to complete your import.