KeePass is a free and open supply password supervisor geared towards energy customers and tech fanatics.
On this article, we stroll you thru find out how to arrange and use KeePass. We additionally reply some continuously requested questions on KeePass and its function set.
1. Downloading and putting in KeePass
Not like different well-liked password managers, KeePass is a totally free password supervisor. Which means you received’t have to fret about shedding out on options for selecting to obtain the free model or choosing one paid subscription over one other.
In our hands-on overview, KeePass acquired a rating of three.2 out of 5 stars. Try our full KeePass overview.
To obtain KeePass, I went on their official web site and navigated to the Downloads part. I’m utilizing my private Home windows laptop computer so I selected to click on on the KeePass Installer for Home windows.
For those who’re utilizing a unique working system, merely search for the suitable obtain hyperlink underneath KeePass’ Contributed/Unofficial KeePass Ports listing.
After it completed downloading, I ran the setup installer and went via the mandatory set up steps. As soon as put in, I launched the app and was redirected to a clean KeePass dashboard.
As we famous in our full KeePass overview, KeePass doesn’t have a lot by way of an preliminary information on find out how to use their software program.
Thankfully, I’ll present you find out how to set every part up on this article.
2. Organising a KeePass database
As soon as I acquired to this clean dashboard, I went over to the menu bar and hovered over File and clicked New.
This may immediate KeePass to begin making a New Database. A KeePass database is your password vault. It’s the file that may retailer your passwords and different data securely.
After clicking New, KeePass requested me if I needed to proceed in creating a brand new database and I clicked OK. From there, I selected the place I needed to have my new database file saved and its.
Afterwards, KeePass prompted me to supply a grasp password for my database.The grasp password is vital as a result of it serves as your foremost key to entry your KeePass databases. In principle, that is the one password you have to to manually create and keep in mind.
Clicking on “Present knowledgeable choices” brings up KeePass’ two choices for multi-factor authentication (MFA): key file and linking to a Home windows person account.
Selecting key file permits you to set a file to save lots of—in your laptop, a USB flash drive or one other machine—to behave as a further requirement in tandem along with your grasp password to entry your database.
In the meantime, linking to a Home windows person account permits you to entry your KeePass database provided that you’re logged into a selected Home windows person account.
For this demonstration, I selected to solely have a grasp password. After setting a password, I re-typed my chosen identify for the brand new database.
3. Saving a brand new entry with KeePass
Now that we’ve acquired a database to work with, it’s time to save lots of our first password entry. As seen in Determine F, KeePass contains two pattern entries whenever you create your first database. You’ll be able to mess around with these to get a really feel for the way it works.
To save lots of a brand new entry, you’ll be able to both click on the brand new entry button on the menu bar, proper click on on any area throughout the dashboard and click on Add Entry or use the shortcut Ctrl + I.
On this case, I used the brand new entry button. From there, KeePass confirmed me the add entry menu and I stuffed within the fields for the Goodreads account I needed to create.
By default, KeePass will generate a 20-character password however you’ll be able to select the size. You may as well set it to have both numbers, higher or decrease case letters and particular symbols.
After I completed filling out the fields, I checked the generated password, pressed OK and my KeePass login was saved.
To entry my new Goodreads credentials, I had the choice to go to the newly saved login, proper click on it and replica the saved username or password.
KeePass continuously requested questions (FAQs)
Is KeePass really free?
Sure, KeePass is totally free. That is considered one of its foremost promoting factors because it doesn’t have any paid or premium model. As a substitute, you get all its password administration options without spending a dime.
Does KeePass have a cell app?
Whereas KeePass doesn’t have an official cell utility per se, it has quite a lot of cell ports that had been created by its group members. As of publication, KeePass had six Android ports and eight iOS ports listed on their official web site.
What are KeePass plugins?
These are downloadable add-ons created by KeePass customers that reach the performance and options of the bottom shopper. They’ll vary from having extra multifactor authentication choices, the power to alter the looks of KeePass or new import and export capabilities.
How do I add KeePass plugins?
After downloading the ZIP file of your chosen KeePass plugin, head over to the Instruments button on the KeePass menu bar. From there, click on the Plugins button then click on Open Folder. This opens the “Plugins folder” of your KeePass shopper.
After getting that open, extract the ZIP file of your downloaded plugin and replica the extracted folder into the KeePass “Plugins folder.” Afterwards, restart the KeePass utility to correctly load your new plugin.
Guarantee that your chosen plugin is suitable with the model of KeePass you will have put in in your laptop.
The place can I am going if I encounter points with KeePass?
KeePass has an official Assist Heart web page that homes completely different guides and articles to handle points. You may as well go to its sturdy group discussion board discovered on SourceForge to get some help from different KeePass customers.
The place ought to I preserve my KeePass database?
I counsel you to retailer your KeePass database on a number of places. Apart from having a replica in your foremost laptop, you can even retailer it on a separate USB flash drive, an exterior arduous drive or SSD or a secondary machine.
This ensures that you’ve got a backup of all of your knowledge and in addition provides you extra methods to entry your logins everytime you want them.
Some customers select to save lots of their database recordsdata on the cloud for comfort and simpler entry. Nonetheless, this will increase the chance of your knowledge being leaked on-line so ensure that your chosen cloud storage methodology is safe.
What we consider KeePass
In our full overview, KeePass acquired a ranking of three.2 out of 5 stars. We highlighted its customizability and distinctive plugin system as its foremost standout options.
Sadly, its unintuitive person interface, steep studying curve, dated design and lack of recent autofill capabilities make it arduous to advocate in comparison with different password managers.
If you wish to study extra, learn our full KeePass overview.
