Can I switch to OPVault from Agile Keychain?

1Password is fluent in two different formats: OPVault (.opvault) and Agile Keychain (.agilekeychain).

Local format vs. sync format

The same security design used in the OPVault format is used for local data regardless of the format used to sync.

  • With iCloud, 1Password has always used the OPVault security design and continues to do so.
  • With Dropbox and Folder Sync, 1Password will, by default, use the Agile Keychain format for greatest compatibility.

An upshot of this is that the OPVault security design is used for your local data even if your sync data is using the Agile Keychain format. However, it is possible to switch to the OPVault file format for Dropbox and Folder Sync as well.

How to enable OPVault for Dropbox and Folder Sync

Eventually, OPVault will become the default sync format everywhere, but during the transition you can still enable OPVault using this hidden preference. It must be enabled on a Mac where you have the latest version of 1Password installed.

Important

If you are syncing with older versions of 1Password, do not make this change. You need to use the Agile Keychain format with 1Password 3 for Mac, 1Password 4 for iOS, 1Password 1 for Windows, and 1Password for Android.
  1. While holding down the control key, choose 1Password > Quit 1Password and 1Password mini from the menu bar, or use the Control-Command-Q keyboard shortcut.
  2. Open Terminal (found in your Mac’s Applications folder under Utilities).
  3. Copy and paste the appropriate line into Terminal.

    If you installed 1Password from the Mac App Store, copy and paste this line:

     defaults write 2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-helper useOPVaultFormatByDefault true
    

    If you installed 1Password from the AgileBits website, copy and paste this line:

     defaults write 2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper useOPVaultFormatByDefault true
    
  4. Press Return.

  5. Open 1Password again.

From now on, all vaults created when enabling Dropbox or Folder Sync will use the OPVault format.

Convert existing vaults

To convert existing sync data from Agile Keychain to OPVault, you will need to first disable sync for the vault you wish to convert. You can choose the “Delete data from Dropbox” option when prompted. Your local data will not be harmed. Then enable Dropbox or Folder Sync for the vault again.

1Password Sync preference pane

Switching back to Agile Keychain

If for any reason you need to switch back to using the Agile Keychain format for Dropbox and Folder Sync, simply perform the above steps with false at the end of the Terminal command instead of true. As before, you will need to go through the same process for converting any vaults you are already syncing.


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