1Password 8 Super Features: Autofill your Mac login

1Password 8-Mac Login item
Tired of typing your computer password all the time. You can now use 1Password 8 to fill your Mac login any time you’re asked to log in with an administrator account on your Mac, like when you want to change a system setting. Here is how to set it up and use the new feature...

April 24, 2023

Tired of typing your computer password all the time. You can now use 1Password 8 to fill your Mac login any time you’re asked to log in with an administrator account on your Mac, like when you want to change a system preference or use sudo commands in Terminal or iTerm2.

Set up Universal Autofill

Before you can use 1Password for Mac to autofill your information in apps and browsers, you’ll need to set up 1Password on your Mac. Then follow these steps:

  1. Choose Apple menu   > System Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, then click Accessibility in the list.
  3. Click the Toggle switch beside 1Password, then enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If you don’t see 1Password, click the + button, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac, and locate the 1Password app in your Applications folder, then select it and click Open.

From now on, you’ll be able to use 1Password for Mac to fill your usernames and passwords without opening the 1Password app.

Create a Mac login item, if you don’t already have one saved in 1Password:

  1. Open and unlock 1Password.
  2. Click New Item, search for “Mac login”, and select it.
  3. Your Mac username will be filled automatically. Enter your password and click Save.

From now on, you’ll be able to use the Command-Backslash (\) keyboard shortcut to autofill your Mac login anywhere you need it.

Advanced Feature: If you’re using Terminal or iTerm 2, enter a sudo command and use the Command-Backslash (\) keyboard shortcut to autofill your Mac login.

The first time fill your password, you’ll see a message that 1Password wants to control your terminal app. Click OK to turn on the Automation preference for 1Password.

See Get Help below if you don’t see a message to allow 1Password to fill logins in your terminal.


Get Help

If you can’t use the Command-Backslash (\) keyboard shortcut to fill in an app or browser, use Quick Access (Shift-Command-Space) to find and fill your logins. If you’re still having trouble, you can copy your passwords from 1Password for Mac and paste them where you need to use them.

If you see a message that asks if you want to link your 1Password item to an app, or that 1Password can’t verify a site should have access to your item, you can choose what you want 1Password to do:

  • Fill once: 1Password will fill your details in the app or website one time.
  • Fill and update login: 1Password will fill your login in the app or website and update your 1Password item to link it to the app or site. You can then autofill your details every time you log in to the same app or website.
  • Cancel: 1Password won’t fill your login in the app or website and won’t update your 1Password login.

If you don’t see a message to allow 1Password to fill logins in your terminal app, follow these steps to turn on the Automation setting:

  1. Choose Apple menu   > System Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, then click Automation in the list.
  3. Click  beside 1Password, then select the checkbox for Terminal or iTerm.

To manage whether 1Password submits forms automatically after filling them, choose 1Password > Settings, then click General, scroll down, and deselect “Submit automatically with Universal Autofill”.

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