Password Managers and Death: Emergency Access in Bitwarden, 1Password and Apple Passwords

Bitwarden: Emergency Access

On a Premium or paid family plan, add a trusted contact (they can use a free Bitwarden account). Choose View (read-only access to your vault) or Takeover (they set a new master password). When they request access, a waiting period you chose starts; you can reject the request at any time before it ends.

1Password: the Emergency Kit

1Password doesn’t have a built-in emergency or legacy contact. Your Emergency Kit holds your sign-in address, email and Secret Key, with a space for your account password. Many people print it and keep it with their will. On a family plan, an organiser can help another member recover their account.

Apple Passwords and Google Password Manager

Apple’s Legacy Contact does not include passwords or passkeys in iCloud Keychain. If yours are in Apple Passwords, your family will need to get into your iPhone or Mac itself. Google Password Manager is tied to your Google Account, so plan for that account too.

Whatever you use

• Write down which password manager you use. Never write the main password into an online service.
• Set up its emergency feature if it has one, and tell the person you chose.
• If it doesn’t, keep its recovery details on paper somewhere safe your family can find.
• Remember two-step codes: if the password manager needs a code from your phone, the phone matters too.