How to Import from KeePass to Passary

Switching password managers shouldn't be complicated. This comprehensive guide walks you through importing your KeePass database into Passary, ensuring all your passwords, folders, and custom fields are securely transferred without any data loss.

Prerequisites

Before starting the import process, make sure you have:

• Your KeePass database file (.kdbx) - This is your encrypted password vault
• KeePass master password - Required to decrypt your database
• Key file (if applicable) - Some databases use an additional key file for security
• Passary account or vault - You can create one during the process
• Modern web browser - Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari with JavaScript enabled

Step 1: Locate Your KeePass Database

You don't need to export anything from KeePass—Passary can directly read your existing .kdbx file. Simply locate your database file on your computer.

Finding Your .kdbx File

Your KeePass database is typically located in one of these places:

• Windows: C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents or C:\Users\[YourName]\KeePass
• macOS: ~/Documents or ~/Library/Application Support/KeePass
• Linux: ~/Documents or ~/.keepass

The file will have a .kdbx extension (e.g., passwords.kdbx or MyDatabase.kdbx).

Step 2: Prepare Your Passary Vault

You need an unlocked Passary vault before you can import data. You have two options:

Option A: Create a New Vault

1. Visit passary.com/create
2. Choose a strong master password (this is separate from your KeePass password)
3. Confirm and create your vault
4. Your vault will automatically unlock and be ready for import

Option B: Use an Existing Vault

1. Visit passary.com/unlock
2. Select your existing vault file
3. Enter your Passary master password
4. Click "Unlock Vault"

Step 3: Import Your KeePass Database

Once your Passary vault is unlocked, follow these steps to import your KeePass data:

3.1 Access the Import Function

1. In your unlocked Passary vault, look for the Settings icon (⚙️) in the sidebar
2. Click on Settings to open the menu
3. Select "Import from KeePass"
4. The KeePass import modal will appear

3.2 Select Your Database File

1. Click the "Database File (.kdbx)" field
2. Navigate to where your .kdbx file is stored
3. Select your KeePass database file
4. The file name will appear in the input field

3.3 Enter Your KeePass Password

1. In the "Master Password" field, enter your KeePass database password
2. This password will be used only for local decryption and is never sent anywhere

3.4 Add Key File (If Required)

If your KeePass database uses a key file for additional security:

1. Click "Use a Key File (Optional)" to expand the section
2. Click the key file input field
3. Select your key file (usually with .key extension, but can be any file)

3.5 Start the Import

1. Double-check all your settings
2. Click the "Import Database" button
3. Passary will show progress indicators:
   • "Reading files..."
   • "Decrypting KeePass database..."
   • "Mapping X entries..."
   • "Merging into vault..."
4. Wait for the process to complete (typically 5-30 seconds depending on database size)

3.6 Import Success

When the import completes, you'll see:

• A green success message with a checkmark
• The number of entries imported (e.g., "142 entries have been securely added to your vault")
• A warning if your database contained file attachments (these are not currently supported)

Step 4: Verify Your Imported Data

After import, it's important to verify that everything transferred correctly:

Check Entry Count

1. Compare the import success count with your KeePass database
   • Open KeePass and check total entries (usually shown in the status bar)
   • Subtract any entries in the Recycle Bin (these aren't imported)
2. The numbers should match exactly

Spot Check Critical Entries

1. Search for a few important passwords in Passary
2. Open each entry and verify:
   • Username is correct
   • URL is present
   • Password is accurate (you can reveal it to compare)
   • Notes and custom fields are intact

Verify Folder Structure

1. Check that all your folders appear in the sidebar
2. Navigate through your folder hierarchy
3. Ensure entries are in the correct folders

Troubleshooting Common Issues

❌ "Incorrect password or key file"

Cause: The password or key file you entered doesn't match your database.

Solutions:

• Double-check your password for typos (remember it's case-sensitive)
• If using a key file, make sure you selected the correct one
• Try opening the database in KeePass to verify your password works
• Ensure Caps Lock is not enabled

❌ "Decryption failed. A key file might be required."

Cause: Your database needs both a password and a key file, but you only provided the password.

Solutions:

• Expand the "Use a Key File" section
• Select your .key file (or whatever file you use as the key)
• Try the import again

❌ "The file appears to be corrupted"

Cause: The file is not a valid KeePass database or is damaged.

Solutions:

• Verify you selected the correct .kdbx file
• Try opening the file in KeePass to see if it's corrupted
• Use a backup copy of your database if available
• Make sure the file finished downloading completely if you downloaded it

❌ "This .kdbx version is not supported"

Cause: Your database is using KeePass 1.x format (KDB) or an unsupported KDBX version.

Solutions:

• Open your database in KeePass 2.x
• Go to File → Save As and save it as KDBX 4 format
• Use the newly saved file for import

❌ "No entries found in the file"

Cause: The database decrypted successfully but contains no entries, or all entries are in the Recycle Bin.

Solutions:

• Check if all your entries are in KeePass's Recycle Bin
• Restore entries from Recycle Bin in KeePass first
• Save the database and try importing again

⚠️ "Attachments Skipped" Warning

Cause: Some of your KeePass entries contained file attachments.

Note: This is expected behavior. Passary currently doesn't support file attachments, but all other data (passwords, usernames, notes, custom fields) is imported successfully.

Workaround:

• Keep your original KeePass database as a reference for attachments
• Store important files in a secure cloud storage instead
• Add links to files in the Notes field if needed

Security & Privacy Notes

What Happens to My KeePass Database?

Your original KeePass database remains completely untouched. The import process only reads your .kdbx file—it never modifies, deletes, or uploads it. You can continue using KeePass alongside Passary, or keep your .kdbx file as a backup.

Should I Delete My KeePass Database?

We recommend keeping your KeePass database as a backup for at least a few weeks after migrating, just to ensure you're completely satisfied with Passary. Once you're confident all your data is properly imported and accessible, you can:

• Archive it securely: Move it to encrypted storage as a backup
• Delete it: Use secure deletion tools (not just moving to trash)
• Keep using both: Some users prefer redundancy

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import multiple KeePass databases?

Yes! You can import as many databases as you want. Each import adds entries to your existing vault. To import another database, simply use the import function again and select a different .kdbx file.

Will duplicate entries be created if I import twice?

Yes, importing the same database twice will create duplicates. Passary doesn't currently detect duplicates automatically. If you accidentally import twice, you'll need to manually remove duplicate entries.

What happens to password history from KeePass?

KeePass password history (previous passwords for each entry) is not currently imported. Only the current password is transferred. This is a known limitation.

Are TOTP/2FA codes imported?

TOTP secrets stored in KeePass custom fields are imported as custom fields in Passary. However, they won't automatically function as TOTP generators. Support for TOTP is planned for a future update.

Can I import from KeePassXC?

Yes! KeePassXC uses the same .kdbx format as KeePass, so the import process is identical. Just select your KeePassXC database file.

What about browser extensions data?

If you use browser extensions like KeePassXC-Browser, those connections and settings are not imported. You'll need to reconfigure browser integration in Passary (when browser extension support is available).

Is there a limit to database size?

Passary can handle large databases (tested with 5,000+ entries), but very large databases (>10,000 entries) may take longer to process. Browser memory limitations may apply for extremely large databases.

Conclusion

Migrating from KeePass to Passary is a straightforward process that preserves all your critical password data while maintaining the highest security standards. The entire operation happens locally on your device with zero-knowledge encryption, ensuring your passwords remain private throughout the transfer.

Once imported, you'll have all your passwords in a modern, user-friendly interface with the same security guarantees you had in KeePass—plus the convenience of a web-based password manager that's fully offline and zero-knowledge.