Backing up an old OS.
This is an out of date question, but...
How do I export passwords on Big Sur 11.7.10?
I have backed up my drive with Time Machine, should that do the trick?
Thank you.
MacBook, OS X 10.11
Hi,
macOS Big Sur (11.7.10) doesn’t have a built-in option to export all passwords at once. Your saved passwords are stored in Keychain Access, and while Time Machine does back those up, the backup only restores them when you fully restore your Mac or use Migration Assistant. It won’t give you a separate export file.
1. Time Machine backup
Your keychain files are included in your Time Machine backup. If you ever restore the Mac or transfer everything to a new one, your passwords will come back automatically.
2. Viewing passwords manually
If you need individual passwords, open Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access, search for the item, open it, and enable “Show password.” That’s the only built-in method Big Sur supports.
3. Exporting passwords
Big Sur doesn’t support exporting passwords as a single file. If you truly need an export, you’d have to import your passwords into a password manager, then export from there.
Apple’s official guide to Keychain Access: Keychain Access User Guide for Mac - Apple Support
Have a good day/night.