1Password setup guide

This guide goes over the process of setting up 1Password on both the desktop, browser plugin, and phone. It is highly recommended to set up 1Password on your phone when you first enroll, as 1Password requires an authenticated device in order to set up another device.

First time setup for 1Password in your browser

1Password uses cryptographic tokens to grant access. Once you've set up 1Password on a device, web browser, or browser extension, you'll need to use that authorized 1Password session to set up any subsequent devices. I recommend setting up 1Password in your web browser and then immediately setting it up on your phone, so that way you always have the ability to set it up again as long as you have your phone with you.

 

  1. If you've used LastPass in the past, you should have the join email already sent to your inbox - skip to step 3. If you haven't used Lastpass, you will need to opt-in to set up 1Password. To do that, go to https://profile.wisc.edu/doit-services , log in with your NetID, password, and MFA, and then select the Request Activation button for 1Password. :Services header
  2. Find the email from 1Password inviting you - click the Join now button:

Email for 1password

  1. After you click Join Now, click the 'Sign in' button:

Join link

  1. After logging in with NetID, password, and MFA push, you'll receive this message, and shortly afterword, an email:

Sign into 1password with NetID

  1. Open the 'Welcome to 1Password' email and click the Sign-in Address link to activate your account:

Welcome to 1password email

  1. After clicking the link in your email, you'll be asked to sign in with your NetID, password and MFA push:

Log in after accepting invite

  1. That will log into 1Password in your web browser. Next, we will set up 1Password on your phone.

Setting up 1Password on your phone

I recommend doing this immediately after setting up 1Password in your browser for the first time, as you want to have your encryption key on your phone to be able to authorize other computers and devices.

 

  1. On your phone, open the Play Store or Apple App Store and search for 1Password and install that:Installing phone app
  2. Go back to your web browser on your computer. If you closed your 1Password page, go to https://uw-madison.1password.com/ and log in with your NetID, password, and MFA push.
  3. Click on your name in the top right corner and go to My Profile:
    My profile in app
  4. Under My Profile, click the 'Show' button under the Setup code to display the QR code:
    Setup code
  5. Open 1Password on your phone. Click the Sign In button, and then the Scan QR Code button:
    Phone app start screen
    Scan QR code link on phone
  6. Use your phone's camera to scan the revealed QR code displayed in your web browser. One that's been scanned, click the 'Sign in with NetID Login button:

  7. Back in the browser, you will be asked to transfer your encryption key. click Transfer Key:

Transfer crypto key

  1. Enter the Verification code displayed in the web browser into your phone - THIS IS CASE SENSITIVE, ENTER IN ALL UPPER CASE.
  2. On your phone, enable logging in with Biometrics and click Continue:
  3. To enable 1Password to easily fill passwords on your phone, click 'Open Settings' in the App and set your autofill service to 1Password:
  4. Once you've done that, click the Back button on your phone to go back to 1Password and click Continue:

  5. Click Skip Tutorial to go straight to the app.

Setting up 1Password in Google Chrome

I also recommend doing this immediately after creating your account and setting up your phone.

  1. In Chrome, click the '…' menu and go to Extensions > Visit Chrome Web Store:

  2. In the web store, search for '1Password' and select 1Password - Password Manager:
  3. Click the 'Add to Chrome' button to install it:
  4. When asked, click 'Add Extension' to add it to Chrome:
  5. After installation, click the big Continue button:
     
  6. Click the Sign In button:
  7. In your browser, you'll see a QR code that you'll scan with your phone to authorize the 1Password Chrome extension:
  8. On your phone, open your 1password app. At the top right corner, click the 1Password icon and go to 'Scan QR code' and use your phone to scan the code shown in your Chrome window.
  9. You'll see the QR code change in your browser:
  10. On your phone, click the 'Transfer Key' button to authorize the extension to have access to 1Password.
  11. Sign in with your NetID, password, and MFA push on your browser:
  12.  After you've signed in, click Add Account from the popup, and allow notifications:



  13. 1Password is now set up for auto-filling via the Chrome extension:

  14. If you don't see the 1Password icon, you can pin it to always be visible by clicking the puzzle piece extension menu and clicking the pin next to 1Password:
  15. 1Password will offer to manage passwords and will enable autofill on sites where it has those passwords saved:

1Password desktop application installation

  1. Download the desktop application here and install: https://1password.com/downloads/
  2. Open the 1Password desktop application. When asked to Sign In, open the 1Password App on your phone, click the UW-Madison crest at the top-right, and select 'Scan QR Code.' Scan the QR code on the desktop application's sign-in page:
  3. Back on your phone, if you have multiple accounts, you'll be asked which account you are signing into - select University of Wisconsin - Madison
  4. On the desktop application, you'll see the QR code change into a pulsing lock icon:
  5. Back on your phone, you'll be asked to transfer your encryption key - click 'Transfer' to allow the desktop application to log in.
  6. On your computer, you'll see a prompt about opening 1Password - check the box to allow and click Open 1Password:
  7. If you haven't logged in with your NetID and password, you'll be asked for those as well as an MFA check.

Adding another account to 1Password's browser extension

  1. Open the 1Password plugin and click the 'All Accounts' button and select 'Add an Account:'
  2. Click Choose another account:
  3. Select 'Phone or tablet:'
  4. Click 'I found my account details':
  5. On your phone, open the 1Password app, select the account you'd like to log into on your web browser, and select the 'Scan QR code' option. Scan the QR code that 1Password generated:
  6. On your phone, pick the account you'd like to sign into. After a second, it'll verify the device you are logging into. Click the 'Transfer Key' button at the bottom

Migrating from Lastpass and family accounts

Migrating from LastPass: https://kb.wisc.edu/security/144101

 

Creating a free Family account for personal passwords: https://kb.wisc.edu/145014



Keywords:
1password, lastpass, passwords, security 
Doc ID:
154711
Owned by:
Nils I. in College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Created:
2025-09-10
Updated:
2025-09-15
Sites:
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences