Just cancelled my @1password subscription after 7 years because while they’re free to fund someone who wants to ethnically cleanse Europe (David Heinemeier Hansson aka DHH; https://www.alilleybrinker.com/blog/1password-funds-ethnic-cleansing/), I’m also free to not have my money be used for that.

If you’re on macOS/iOS, here’s how I migrated without losing any data and without any noticeable degradation in my experience¹.

> TL;DR: To migrate from 1Password, I used StrongBox to create my KeePass Database file without losing any of my data and I’m going to be using KeePassium to manage it and for Safari integration and KeepassXC with its browser plugins for Chrom(e/ium)/Firefox.

Read on for detailed instructions:

1. Export your data from 1Password8 in 1Password Unencrypted Export (.1pux) format: https://support.1password.com/export/?mac

**Note that this is unencrypted.** DO NOT store this file in your iCloud Drive, Dropbox, etc., and remember to delete it when you’re done with the import.²

(I put it in my home folder.)

2. Download StrongBox, a native macOS client for KeePass Database files: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-password-manager/id897283731

3. Launch StrongBox and select File → Import → 1Password → Import 1Pux and select the file you exported from 1Password.

4. Choose a strong password for your database and save the file. This is where you can save it to iCloud Drive to have your encrypted database synced between your Mac, iPhone, etc.

You could leave it there and use StrongBox but I wouldn’t recommend it. It has the best importer so that’s why I used it but the app is owned by Applause Group, which is VC-funded so it will enshittify.

The good news is that once you’ve exported your data from 1password and have your KeePass Database, it’s yours. You can use different apps to edit it, provide autofill, etc.

One of those apps is KeePassium (https://keepassium.com/) by an independent developer (Dr. Andrei Popleteev). So, to continue our guide:

5. Download KeePassium (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/keepassium-keepass-passwords/id1435127111) and open your database using that client and uninstall the VC-funded StrongBox once you’re done with the initial import.

Again, you can stop here.³

But you likely want the level of browser integration that you came to expect from 1password and its autofill.

So there are two ways you can get autofill in your browsers:

a. For Safari, Keepassium has native integration. This works well for everthing apart from one-time passwords (OTPs), which don’t seem to autofill (at least for me) and you have to open the desktop app and copy it manually.

b. For Chrom(e/ium) and Firefox, you need to install the KeePassXC desktop app (https://keepassxc.org/) and its browser extensions for Chrom(e/ium) and Firefox (https://keepassxc.org/download/#browser).

The browser extension is excellent (at least on Chromium, where I tried it) and fills in OTPs as well. Sadly, there is no Safari extension.

Also, you need to keep the KeePassXC app running for the browser extensions to work. So start it at launch and keep it minimised (there is a setting for that).

So, there you have it: I had seven years of data in 1Password (actually, likely far more as I was using it before it was a subscription) and I was able to migrate away in about ten minutes. (It’s taken me longer to write this.) You don’t have to stay locked in if you don’t agree with their ethics.

Good luck! :)

(Remember to write a note and tell them why you’re cancelling and to share your own experiences in this thread.)

¹ After you import your data, go through it and check that you have everything.

² Actually delete it. Command+Backspace then right-click the Trash and Empty Bin.

³ [Update] I initially was also testing https://heylogin.app/ as it has great browser integration but the problem is that it has its own hosted database and so the two databases are bound to start drifting. I’ve since deleted my account and I’m going all in on KeePass.

#1Password #OnePassword #password #passwordManager #DHH #fascism #EU #Europe #ethnicCleansing