Troubleshooting and Common Questions
Even the best systems can present new questions and challenges. As you adopt this new approach to password management, you might run into a few common concerns. Let’s address them proactively so you can feel confident in your setup.
“What if I forget my master password?”
This is the most common fear, and it’s a valid one. Because of the zero-knowledge model, your password manager company cannot reset your master password for you. If they could, it would mean they had access to your data, defeating the purpose of the security model. However, you are not without options. During setup, most services provide you with one or more recovery methods. This could be a one-time recovery key (that long string of characters you were told to save), recovery codes, or setting up a trusted friend or family member for account recovery. This is why it is absolutely critical to save your recovery key in a safe, physical location separate from your computer. Think of it as the spare key to your house that you keep in a safe deposit box.
“Is it really safe to store all my passwords in one place?”
This is another understandable concern. It feels like putting all your eggs in one basket. However, it’s a very, very strong basket. Your password manager vault is heavily encrypted using algorithms like AES-256, which is the same standard used by banks and governments. As we’ve discussed, this encryption happens on your device before the data is ever sent to the cloud. An attacker would need to steal the encrypted data, and then somehow guess your long, unique master passphrase to unlock it—a task that is practically impossible with today’s technology. The security risk of using a password manager is infinitesimally smaller than the proven, massive risk of reusing weak passwords across the internet.
“How do I handle shared accounts, like with a partner or family?”
Most major password managers offer family or team plans for this exact reason. These plans allow you to create shared vaults or folders. You can place the login credentials for shared services (like streaming sites, utilities, or online shopping) into a shared vault. Everyone in the family plan can then access those credentials using their own master password. It’s a secure way to share access without ever having to text a password or say it out loud. You can also securely share a single password with another person without needing a full family plan.
“Some websites have strange password rules that the generator doesn’t meet.”
Occasionally, you’ll run into a website with outdated or frustratingly specific password rules, such as “must be exactly 8 characters and contain no special symbols.” Your password manager’s generator is highly customizable. You can typically adjust the length, and toggle on or off the use of numbers, symbols, and uppercase letters to meet any site’s specific requirements. While these sites are practicing poor security, your manager can still adapt to create the strongest possible password within their strange constraints.
