Signup Process

You will receive an email inviting you to use 1Password as your password manager.

Benefits of using a password manager

Password managers enhance online security by:

  • helping you create strong, unique passwords for each account

  • automatically filling in saved credentials and login forms

  • preventing the risk of using weak or reused credentials

  • protecting against phishing (autofill only works on the correct website)

  • alerting you to data breaches

  • allowing for secure sharing of passwords

  • storing more than just passwords (credit card numbers, secure notes, personal data)

  • manage all accounts and sensitive information within an encrypted vault

Note: 1Password has never been hacked. But even if there was a breach, your data would be safe. Click here to learn why.

During signup, you will create a Master Password that you must remember.

  • You don't have to remember all of your other passwords, and that's why you can make them as long and as hard as you want! But you do need to remember one password--your master password.

  • That's why they call it 1Password!

You will also be provided with a Secret Key that you must save.

  • You will need to use your Secret Key along with your password the first time you sign on to a new device.

  • Both your password and secret key will be provided via a downloadable PDF file called your Emergency Kit.

You Must Save Your Emergency Kit!

  • Download the PDF and then print it for storage in a secure physical location (a locked filing cabinet, home safe, etc.)

  • Then save the PDF to a personal, encrypted cloud storage service (where our IT team does not have access).

The Master Password and Secret Key are the only keys to your vault. For your security, no one at our company, nor 1Password, has a copy. You are solely responsible for securing your Emergency Kit in at least two separate, secure locations.

Account Recovery

If you lose both your Secret Key and your Master Password, there is an Account Recovery feature (2-step process).

  • First, you need to contact us so we can initiate the Recovery Process.

  • You will receive an email from 1Password with a unique, secure link to start your recovery. (Note: IT administrators cannot click this link for you.)

  • By clicking the link, you will be guided through resetting your credentials and will be prompted to download a new Emergency Kit PDF.

  • Download the PDF and print it for storage in a secure physical location (a locked filing cabinet, home safe, etc.)

  • Then save the PDF to a personal, encrypted cloud storage service (where our IT team does not have access).

  • You now have a new set of credentials, but you are still technically "Pending Recovery". An IT administrator will be notified to log in and complete your recovery.

  • You user account will then be fully reinstated and you can use your new master password and secret key to sign in to all of your devices. You will see all of your passwords exactly like before you were locked out.

Why This Works

The recovery process allows us to provide excellent support while adhering to the highest security standards that you expect from a zero-knowledge password manager:

  • Zero-Knowledge Maintained: Our IT team never sees, stores, or transmits your Master Password or Secret Key. We only activate the official recovery mechanism.

  • Data Integrity: Your encrypted data (the actual stored passwords) is not lost and does not need to be restored from a backup.