What Happens to Your 1Password Account When You Die
Quick Facts
Urgency
Critical — master key to all accounts
Emergency Access
Yes — must be set up in advance
Emergency Kit
Printed document with Secret Key
Support
Will work with estate representatives
Step-by-Step Guide
Check if Emergency Access is set up
In 1Password, go to Settings > Emergency Access. If a trusted person was granted access, they can request entry after a waiting period. This is the easiest path.
Find the Emergency Kit
The Emergency Kit is a printed PDF that contains the Secret Key, sign-in address, and account email. Check physical safes, filing cabinets, and safety deposit boxes.
Locate the master password
The master password should be stored in a physical location (safe, sealed envelope, attorney's office). Without it, the vault cannot be unlocked even with the Emergency Kit.
Contact 1Password support with death certificate
If Emergency Access and Emergency Kit are unavailable, contact 1Password support with a death certificate. They have limited ability to help but may assist with account-level access.
Document Now Checklist
- Emergency Access set up (yes/no)
- Emergency Kit location (physical)
- Master password location (physical only — NEVER digital)
- Recovery key location
- Family/team plan (yes/no)
Save this to your vault
When you document your accounts in Passed Plan, your family gets a personalized action plan — with only the guides that apply to them, in the right order, with your notes attached.
Start your vault — free for 30 daysLast verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with 1Password. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Related Guides
What is 2FA?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the single biggest barrier families face when accessing accounts after death. If 2FA is enabled on an account and nobody has the authenticator device or backup codes, the account may be permanently inaccessible.
Google Authenticator
Open Google Authenticator → tap your profile icon → turn on sync. This backs up your 2FA codes to your Google account so they survive phone loss.
Authy
Settings → Devices → Allow multi-device. This lets you add Authy to multiple phones or tablets. If multi-device is off and the phone is lost, recovery is extremely difficult.
Protect your 1Password account — and all your others
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