If you forget your master password

1Password encrypts and locks your data file using the master password you defined when you first launched the application. This password is not stored anywhere, and it is never logged. We don’t know it, and there is no “back door” mechanism to recover it or your 1Password data. This approach is very important, as it ensures that 1Password keeps your data safe and secure; however, because of it, if your password is forgotten, there is nothing we can do to help you recover it.

Before deleting the data file and starting all over, please try these tips.

Toggle the CapsLock and NumLock keys

If you master password key seems to stop working, it may be because the CapsLock or NumLock key is pressed when it shouldn’t be or vice versa. Try typing your password with the CapsLock key on and then off. Likewise, try typing your password with the NumLock key on and then off.

Switch keyboard layouts

From the Windows Start menu, choose the Region and Language control panel. On the Keyboards and Languages tab, click the Change Keyboards button to display the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box, in which you can select keyboard layouts for various languages. If you’ve done that, the keys on your keyboard might show different characters than are created when you press those keys. If you are using a layout different from the one that was active when you created your master password, the keys may be mapped to different characters. If you aren’t sure which keyboard layout you used, try entering your master password using all of the layouts that seem possible.

Restart your computer

This is not a very technical suggestion, but there have been instances where some installed software influences how keystrokes are processed and thus alter the password you think you’re typing. By restarting your PC, you will stop these applications and also restart any other “misbehaving” applications.

Restore from backup

If you recently changed your password and then forgot the new one, you may be able to recover some of your data by restoring your data file from one of the several backup files created automatically or by the Backup > Back Up 1Password Data command. Of course, you need to remember the old password to open the restored data file.

Start over

Once you have tried all the passwords you can think of and the suggestions above, there is nothing you can do but start over with a new data folder. To do this, go to File > New 1Password Data Folder ... from the menubar in 1Password.