Popular password manager 1Password has announced (opens in new tab) big changes are coming in the newly upgraded iteration.
Based on feedback from social media, user forums, and app store reviews, 1Password has revamped its software, making it easier for new users and promising improvements for iPhone app users.
There’s no specific date for when all the updates in 1Password 8 will arrive, but the company says it will be in the near future, with some features already live on certain platforms.
New functions
A new feature coming soon is the ability to rearrange the fields related to a stored identifier simply by dragging and dropping them.
1Password admits that this is limited at the moment, but says it wanted this much-requested feature as soon as possible and further improvements will be made to it in due course to allow for more customization in the future.
Another feature is one that’s coming back, and that’s the ability to search for your passwords in any list of items, on both iOS and Android platforms.
Also, as requested by users, you can use your device’s PIN to unlock your password vault, in addition to using your biometric credentials if you have set them up on your device.
And as for biometrics, 1Password promises to improve the use of Apple’s Face ID facial recognition feature with the manager on iOS and the Safari browser extension, aiming to make it more consistent.
Sticking with Apple, the VoiceOver feature on the tech company’s devices will also integrate better with 1Password, preventing it from getting stuck in certain text fields, as sometimes happens.
1Password adds that “the screen reader will also read aloud all the characters as you move past them – even if you start editing the accompanying text.”
“If you type in a text field and make a mistake, you can go back and find the right place with the arrow keys. All text will be selected and read aloud, but you can also select a specific section by holding down shift and an arrow key.”
The Emergency Kit feature, which is useful for those using 1Password as a business password manager, can now be disabled. This is a document that is accessible to all team members so they can view their own account information and password, but 1Password says not every company wants it, explaining that it “can (reduce) the friction for new team members joining the get started with 1Password” when disabled.
Another option that you can now disable if you wish is file storage. This is specific to 1Password Business users, to prevent employees from storing unwanted files on the system.
1Password Business also allows administrators to require two-factor authentication (2FA) via physical security keys for anyone who wants to log into it, increasing protection.
Other updates coming to 1Password 8 include an indicator to let others know when you’re offline, as well as auto-complete searches, as well as showing recently searched terms for those using the mobile app.
More customizable options include never autofilling certain login details on certain websites, opening saved addresses in your map app of choice, specifying the exact domains for autofill – so similar domains don’t autofill by accident – and being able to edit and even delete vaults on iOS and Android devices.
1Password Business users also get a public preview Unlock with Okta (opens in new tab) mid-February, enabling Single-Sign On (SSO) access to 1Password in a way that requires using trusted devices, rather than sharing an encryption key that could put your entire company at risk if just one of your employees is compromised .
