Switching from TextExpander to TypeSnap
Ready to leave TextExpander? Here's how to export your entire snippet library and import it into TypeSnap in under 60 seconds — groups, macros, and all.
You’ve decided to leave TextExpander. Maybe it was the subscription that pushed you over the edge — what started at $20/year is now $40/year, with no sign of stopping. Maybe you’re tired of your snippets living in the cloud when they don’t need to. Whatever brought you here, the good news is this: your snippets should come with you, and moving them takes less than a minute.
What Transfers
The import is thorough. Here’s what comes over cleanly:
- All your snippets and their content
- Groups and folder structure (preserved as TypeSnap groups)
- Fill-in fields (text inputs, dropdowns, checkboxes)
- Date and time macros
- Clipboard insertion
- Nested snippet references
- Cursor positioning
What changes: AppleScript snippets and shell scripts are converted to plain text. This is intentional — running arbitrary code from a snippet library is a security risk, and TypeSnap doesn’t support it. You’ll see these flagged in the import preview so you can decide what to do with them.
Step 1: Export from TextExpander
You have two options depending on whether you use the web app or the Mac app.
Option A: Export from the Web App (recommended)
- Go to app.textexpander.com
- Click Settings → Import/Export
- Click Export All Snippets
- Download the
.csvfile — this contains your entire library
Option B: Export from the Mac App
- Open TextExpander
- Select a group in the sidebar
- Click File → Save a Copy of Group…
- Save the
.textexpanderfile - Repeat for each group you want to transfer
Option A is easier if you have many groups. Option B gives you more control if you only want to move specific groups.
Step 2: Import into TypeSnap
- Open TypeSnap
- Click File → Import → From TextExpander
- Drag your export file into the window (or click to browse)
- Review the import preview:
- Green ✓ = Ready to import as-is
- Yellow ⚠️ = Imported with changes (macro was converted)
- Red ✗ = Cannot import automatically (needs manual review)
- Click Import
That’s it. Your entire snippet library is now in TypeSnap.
Macro Conversion Reference
TypeSnap automatically converts TextExpander’s macro syntax to its own. Here’s the full mapping:
| TextExpander | TypeSnap |
|---|---|
%filltext:name=Name% |
{{input:Name}} |
%fillpopup:name=Day:Mon:Tue:Wed% |
{{select:Day:Mon,Tue,Wed}} |
%fillpart:name=Sig%...%fillpartend% |
{{optional:Sig}}...{{/optional}} |
%clipboard |
{{clipboard}} |
%Y-%m-%d |
{{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} |
%@+7D% |
{{date+7d}} |
%| |
{{cursor}} |
%key:tab% |
{{key:tab}} |
%snippet:abbr% |
{{snippet:abbr}} |
Most macros convert automatically. The yellow warnings in the import preview will point you to any that need a second look.
FAQ
Will this delete my TextExpander snippets?
No. TypeSnap imports a copy of your snippets — it reads your export file and creates new entries in its own library. Your TextExpander account and its data are completely untouched. You can keep using TextExpander alongside TypeSnap until you’re confident everything transferred correctly.
What if a macro doesn’t convert?
TypeSnap shows a yellow warning for macros that were converted with a best-effort translation, and red for ones it can’t handle automatically. Both cases are clearly labeled in the import preview. For red items, you can click into the snippet after import and edit it manually — the original TextExpander syntax is preserved in the preview so you know exactly what it was.
TypeSnap is $17.99, one time. No subscription, no cloud account required. Download TypeSnap. Or see the full import guide for all supported formats.