The previously announced password feature of 1Password will be available to users starting today. Access Key is a recommended solution to permanently terminate passwords and is finally starting to gain momentum. This technology uses your device’s biometric sensors, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to identify you. It’s not that different from using biometrics to unlock your phone.
1Password’s press release announced that starting today, you can add logins with an access key through the password manager. For example, when you create a passkey for your Google Account, 1Password detects it and adds it to your 1Password account. Then, the next time you need to sign in to your Google Account, 1Password will automatically sign you in. So unless your fingers are wet or your face is covered, you won’t need the password.
The company says support will begin with beta extensions for Safari and macOS on macOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave on Windows and Linux. You will also be able to view, edit, move, share and delete access keys in 1Password for Mac, iOS, Windows, Android and Linux.
With the widespread adoption of biometrics on phones, tablets and laptops, this seems like the logical next step. If you’ve ever used a password manager like 1Password, you’ve probably used biometrics to autofill login information on websites and apps. It looks like Access Keys will remove the need to autofill username and password and hit the login button completely.
Since 1Password is platform independent, it will work for those who regularly change their operating system or entire ecosystem. Unlike existing Apple or Google apps, 1Password works and syncs across ecosystems. And like everything else in 1Password, you’ll be able to share your access keys with friends and family, and even set time limits on how long they’ll have access.