I don’t think that 1Password, AgileBits’ popular password management and form-filling tool, needs any introduction for MacStories readers.I have been using 1Password since I got my first Mac in 2008, bought the iPhone and iPad versions, followed the development of the Mac client, and praised the major 4.0 update for iOS that was released in December 2012. Use a third-party Mac password manager! Third-party password management apps remember your passwords for you so that you don’t have to. It’s like Keychain, but some password applications offer additional features you won’t find in Keychain. One such app is 1Password. With 1Password, you literally just need one master password. 1Password for Mac. 1Password is a robust and secure password manager, available across all platforms and devices. With your master password and private key, you no longer have to remember any login information or credentials. Safe cross-platform password manager.
Your Mac’s password is used for many different purposes. In addition to allowing you to log in to your user account, it allows you to unlock the screen when it has automatically locked. It also allows you to enable privileges for apps detailed in the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences.
You can’t disable the password completely. However, you can set your Mac up so that you don’t need to type in the password every time you unlock the screen. Here’s how to turn off the password on your Mac.
AgileBits today released a new version of popular password management app 1Password, with the updated Mac software now able to run natively on Apple's M1 Macs. Version 7.8 of the 1Password app adds native support for Apple silicon, which is something AgileBits has been working on since Apple first debuted its newest machines.
How to remove the login password on your Mac
The login password is useful where multiple people use your Mac or where you use your MacBook in a public setting. However, if you have a desktop Mac and are the only person who uses it, you don’t really need it.
- Click on the Apple menu and choose System Preferences.
- Select Users & Groups.
- Click on the padlock and type in your account password.
- Choose Login Options at the bottom of the sidebar.
- Click on the drop down menu next to “Automatic login” and choose your user account.
- Type in your password and press Ok.
- Quit System Preferences.
Some changes in the Security & Privacy section of System Preferences require you to type in your password to use them. If you don’t want to do that every time, the Privacy module in CleanMyMac X can make changes to applications permissions. For example, you can control whether an application has access to your Documents folder, camera, or screen recording.
1. Download, install, and launch CleanMyMac X.
2. Choose the Privacy Module and press Scan.
1password 7 Download
3. Choose Application Permissions and click on the arrow next to the application to control the permissions it has.
4. Check the box next to the permission you want to remove and press Remove.
How to disable the sleep password on your Mac
The other instance when you need to type in your password to access your Mac is when you wake it from sleep or need to unlock the screen after the screensaver has started.
- Launch System Preferences.
- Choose the Security & Privacy pane.
- Select the General tab.
- Uncheck the box next to “Require password”
- Type in your password and confirm you want to turn off the screen lock.
How to use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac
An alternative to disabling the password altogether is to use your Apple Watch, if you have one, to unlock your Mac. You will still have to type in your password the first time you start up your Mac after shutting it down (unless you have it set to log in automatically, as we showed you above). However, you won’t need your password to wake it from sleep; it will unlock automatically when it detects your Watch is close, and you’re wearing it.
- Open System Preferences and choose Security & Privacy.
- Check the box next to “Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac.”
- Quit System Preferences.
How to change your password on your Mac
Changing your password is not the same as disabling or removing it, of course. But if you change it to nothing, i.e., you leave the box where you would normally type a new password blank, on some Macs and some versions of macOS, this will allow you to log in or wake your Mac by just pressing Return.
- Launch System Preferences.
- Choose Users & Groups.
- Select your user account and press Change Password.
- Type in your old password, and leave the new password and verify boxes empty.
- Press Change Password.
- Quit System Preferences.
By following the steps above, you can disable the password on your Mac when you log in or when you wake it from sleep. If you disable it when you log in, your Mac will log in automatically to the account you choose. You will still have to use a password to log into another account using fast-user switching or when you log out. If you don’t want to use a password when you make changes to application permissions in System Preferences, CleanMyMac X can disable permissions in its Privacy module.
1password Mac Edge
View saved passwords in Safari
- Open Safari.
- From the Safari menu, choose Preferences, then click Passwords.
- Sign in with Touch ID, or enter your user account password. You can also authenticate your password with your Apple Watch running watchOS 6 or later.
- To see a password, select a website.
- To update a password, select a website, click Details, update the password, then click Done.
- To delete a saved password, select a website, then click Remove.
You can also use Siri to view your passwords by saying something like 'Hey Siri, show my passwords.'
One Password Mac
Save your passwords across your devices
Autofill your Safari user names and passwords, credit cards, Wi-Fi passwords, and more on any device you approve. iCloud Keychain keeps your passwords and other secure information updated across your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.
Learn how to set up iCloud Keychain.
Learn which countries and regions support iCloud Keychain.
Use AutoFill to store credit card information
AutoFill automatically enters things like your previously saved credit card details, contact information from the Contacts app, and more.
Learn how to set up and use AutoFill in Safari on your Mac.