How to Upgrade From Lastpass to 1Password
Password management services like LastPass and 1Password are great because they make it easy to protect all of your online accounts with one encrypted master password … at least in theory.
LastPass, one of the most popular options , has faced numerous security breaches and issues over the past few years. Most recently, in March , a major exploit was discovered that allowed hackers to steal passwords. LastPass responded by telling its users to stay on high alert until the issue is eventually fixed. Another exploit, caused by flawed code in a LastPass browser extension, was reported a year earlier, in 2016 , and the company confirmed a full-blown security breach in 2015 .
If you begin to see a pattern, you are not alone . LastPass has occasional security issues. So if you’re worried about protecting your online identity, we’re here to help make the transition to 1Password as easy and painless as possible.
LastPass vs 1Password
Before switching, there are a few key differences between the two services worth noting. LastPass stores your password on their servers, while 1Password offers the option to protect your data locally, making you less vulnerable to hackers – although the company has recently started pushing customers to rely on their servers ( 5:15 pm – 1Password datastore info. Options have been updated). 1Password also offers a dedicated tool called Watchtower that monitors the websites you use to see if they’ve been hacked so you can quickly change your password.
The main plus of LastPass is that it’s free (with the premium version that offers emergency access, priority tech support, 1GB of encrypted file storage, and more, available for $ 2 a month), while 1Password costs $ 2.99 per month for a single user, or $ 4.99 for a family plan for up to five people. But if you don’t mind paying a nominal fee for extra peace of mind, here’s how to do it.
How to Upgrade from LastPass to 1Password: The Easy Way
1Password has a pretty handy guide to migrating from LastPass. This process will cover all of your site logins and Secure Notes, which includes important personal information such as your bank account, social security numbers, and passport numbers.
First, create a new 1Password account. Next, sign in to the LastPass website and select Advanced Options. Then click on Advanced and then Export. At this point, you may be asked to sign in again. You should see a text box containing all of your LastPass data. Copy it by right-clicking the text box, choosing Select All, then choosing Edit and then Copy.
Once you’ve got your LastPass credentials, go to the 1Password website and sign in. Click your account name in the upper right corner of the page and select Import. Select LastPass and then select the appropriate storage (perhaps private or private if it’s your personal information and not a work account). You will see a text box, right click and select Paste. That’s all, done.
At this point, you should uninstall LastPass so it doesn’t interfere with 1Password. Then download the 1Password browser extension and start using it.
How to Upgrade from LastPass to 1Password: The Hard Way
If you’re worried about exposing your data during transfer, iMore has a significantly more complex guide that requires you to create an encrypted disk image and transfer it to 1Password instead. This is probably not necessary, but if you are primarily paranoid about LastPass, you might as well consider this.
Either way, with a little effort, you should be back to surfing the internet without worry soon.