1Password User Guide

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    Upgrading to the New Data Format

    All your 1Password data is stored into a data file called a keychain. This data file needs to be upgraded before you can use 1Password 3.

    If you install 1Password 3 before upgrading to the Agile Keychain, you will receive this message because your 1Password data is still stored in the Mac OS X keychain:

    OS X Keychain must be upgraded prompt in version 3

    1Password 3 uses a new data format to support the new features, so you need to migrate your data before using 1Password 3. See below for details on how to do this.

    Please note that all other applications will continue to use the Mac OS X Keychain. Only the 1Password data will be migrated to the new data format.

    Determining which data format you are using

    If you have not yet upgraded to 1Password 3, you can look in the 1Password > Preferences windows to determine which data format you are using. To do this, open the Keychain tab in the Preferences window and look at the button at the very bottom; if it says “Switch Back to OS X Keychain”, then you are using the new data format and can proceed with the upgrade.

    If the button says “Switch to Agile Keychain”, then you need to follow the steps in the How to Switch to Agile Keychain document before upgrading.

    How to upgrade in 1Password 3

    Unfortunately, because of technical limitations, the data upgrade must happen in 1Password 2 and cannot be performed using 1Password 3. You can perform this migration in 1Password 2 as follows:

    1. Download the most recent version of 1Password 2 from the downloads page.
    2. Quit 1Password and all your browsers and drag your existing version to the Trash before copying over the newly downloaded 1Password application.
    3. Follow the steps in the How to Switch to Agile Keychain document.
    4. Once the conversion is complete, verify your 1Password data is correct and then upgrade to version 3 again.

    Why 1Password 3 No Longer Stores Data in the Mac OS X keychain Format

    Since the very beginning, 1Password used the Mac OS X keychain Services to store all of its information. After years of use, we learned a lot about the nuances of the Mac OS X keychain and how users benefited from it, as well as where things could be improved.

    The Agile Keychain was created in response to users needs to be able to sync without using MobileMe and from our years of experience supporting customers. We needed a solution that was faster, easy to sync, more robust, and able to support the features of 1Password 3.

    As 1Password matured and its features increased, 1Password could no longer store all its information in the Mac OS X keychain.

    For more information, you can review the quick data file comparison document as well as a detailed explanation of why the Agile Keychain was created and the technical Agile Keychain Design documents.