When you choose to unlock 1Password with your Mac (currently in beta), it’s easier to use a longer and more secure account password than you might otherwise have chosen.
You must unlock your Mac to unlock 1Password
If you choose to unlock 1Password when you unlock your Mac, you must successfully authenticate with your Mac login password or Touch ID to unlock 1Password, and 1Password will only remain unlocked as long as your Mac is unlocked.
Your 1Password data is still protected
Unlocking 1Password when you unlock your Mac doesn’t replace your account password or SSO, nor does it undermine the security of 1Password.
When you unlock 1Password with your Mac, 1Password creates an unlock secret and encrypts it using an encryption key stored in the Secure Enclave , which means the encryption key can’t be extracted from your hardware.
To retrieve the secret, 1Password proves its identity to macOS using code signatures, then asks the Secure Enclave to decrypt the secret. If you’ve successfully unlocked your Mac, the Secure Enclave decrypts the secret and returns it to 1Password to decrypt your data. The Secure Enclave will only decrypt the secret if your Mac is successfully unlocked.
Protect yourself when you unlock 1Password with your Mac
- Unlocking 1Password with your Mac is only as secure as your settings. This option is designed to work with recent versions of macOS and modern security hardware. It’s only as secure as those features and how you configure them. At minimum, this option requires you to set a Mac login password.
- Remember your account password. If you unlock 1Password with your Mac frequently, it may be easier to forget your account password if you’re not typing it often. Make sure you have a copy of your Emergency Kit printed and prepared.
- Choose a longer, stronger password. The convenience of unlocking 1Password with your Mac allows you to use a longer and more secure password than you may have otherwise chosen for your 1Password account. Learn how to create a strong password.
- Use secure settings for your Lock Screen. Set your Mac’s display to turn off when it’s inactive on battery and AC power, and choose an appropriate amount of time to require your password after the screen saver begins or the display turns off.
- Lock your Mac when you leave it unattended. Use the Apple menu or close the lid of your computer.
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