Regain Control & Manage Passwords

From just a single password for my first email account, we now need a username and password for just about any online activity. Over the years I have around 200 passwords scribled on scraps of paper and saved in a spreadsheet that was hard to keep updated, with almost daily additions.
Most of the approx 100 Instructables here focus on creating passwords and specific software applications. This instructable explains the procedure I used to regain control of my passwords.

I began with several Google searches with terms like: "best password manager" "free password manager", "How to Find Password Manager
Some names keep coming up eg. NordPass, 1Password, Dashlane, Bitwarden, to name a few.

Read the reviews and try to get to understand how they work, how much they cost and if they would meet your needs.

I felt uncomfortable using a Manager that saved my data to the cloud.

Since it was just for home use, I did not see the logic in paying monthly subscription.

Decide Criteria and Essential Features

1. Price: Free

2. Portability: USB

3. Online or Local : Local Only

Attempt to Download. Great way to find out if you get locked to that Manager.

I avoided any that required the upfront creation of an Account.

Ultimately settled on Keepass as it was very simple to download.

After download and installation, do a few dummy runs to get familiar with how it works.
a. Do a trial Import of passwords from Browser. Saved passwords from most Browsers can be exported quite easily. Just search " How to Export Passwords from (insert Browser name).

I was unable to find a way to export from Edge.

I found KeePass broke down the passwords into groups: General, Windows, Network, Internet, Email, and Banking.

This was the KEY and helped greatly to getting my own passwords organised.

b. Manipulate the imported data in Keepass. Use Drag and Drop to set up Groups.

Only after fully testing and getting familiar with the software proceed to tranfer passwords and set up Master Password.
Any passwords in Spreadsheet can be exported as a csv file and Imported into KeePass.

Utilise the many feature to get the most from your new Password Manager.
Add Entries, Edit Entries, Fill in URLs, Integrate and Use Auto Log in. Complete data base can be exported or even printed for your records.

KeePass has all the features that I need and is easy to use and maintain.

There are a huge variety of Password Managers and it can be a bit intimidating selecting the right one.

After setting Up and Using Keepass, its very easy for forget where the Database file is stored.

This is critical if during a Computer Upgrade the Application has be be re installed.

Luckily, when it is first started Keepass creates an Emergency Sheet which should be kept safely.

It records the location of the Database file and Master Password, so it can be easily retrieved.

The Master Password that is entered to start the application must match the Database file name that appears below the title in the Enter Master Key window.