I deleted 1Password

This week, I deleted 1Password.

I’ve been thinking about it since it was introduced in iOS 15 last year and with the addition of iCloud Keychain Notes in iOS 15.4, for things like memorable words; I was sold. But 1000+ password the migration task ahead felt huge.

I already had plenty of motivation to leave 1Password, but tipping point finally came when an advert popped up in the sidebar of 1Password for Mac. An app I’ve paid for. It was selling a 3 year 50% discount on their subscription plan, so it looks like they’re getting desperate to feed those hungry investors…

So I spent a good amount of time readying my 1Password library for export:

• Moving software licenses, membership numbers, and other useful codes and keys to Apple’s Notes
• Checking all credit card info was saved in Safari
• Storing things like website database connection details securely
• Ensuring all website usernames and passwords had a URL (Apple needs these three things)

Once all of that preparation was done, though, it was a piece of cake to export my 1Password library and import it to Apple Passwords.

How it’s working out

I’m now happily 1Password free!

Logging in and signing up for services in Safari is now a lot slicker. No more messy clashes with 1Password pop-ups and iCloud Passwords.

Admittedly, it’s not as slick when using a browser other than Safari, which is thankfully not all that often. The first time I log in somewhere I need to:

1. open Passwords in System Preferences (Settings on iOS)
2. manually copy and paste login credentials

But browsers do a good at storing those, so it’s only really two factor authentication codes I have to copy and paste with any regularity.

I’ve used Apple’s Shortcuts to create a fake Passwords.app that I can run from Spotlight, my Dock, Menu Bar, or even Touch Bar if I want. This works particularly nicely on iOS where it really does feel like an app of its own. In fact, having used it like this for a few days, Passwords feels like something Apple should consider moving out of System Preferences/Settings and into its own stand-alone app.

Finally, leaving 1Password behind has meant I can cut my ties with Dropbox too. So I no longer have to worry about my MacBook’s fan no longer firing up and my battery draining when I’m not doing something where I would expect it (like using a Chromium-based app like Miro).

I’m very glad I put the legwork in to make the switch. Not only did it prove a good way to prune old passwords, and even reminisce over some long dead services and apps, but it’s two less apps running in the background. And fewer in-app adverts!