How to Use KeePass (Step-by-Step Guide)

KeePass is a free and open supply password supervisor geared towards energy customers and tech fans.

On this article, we stroll you thru arrange and use KeePass. We additionally reply some incessantly requested questions on KeePass and its characteristic set.

1. Downloading and putting in KeePass

Not like different well-liked password managers, KeePass is a totally free password supervisor. Because of this you gained’t have to fret about dropping out on options for selecting to obtain the free model or choosing one paid subscription over one other.

In our hands-on evaluation, KeePass obtained a rating of three.2 out of 5 stars. Try our full KeePass evaluation.

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 special 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 by means of 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 evaluation, KeePass doesn’t have a lot by way of an preliminary information on use their software program.

Happily, I’ll present you set the whole lot up on this article.

2. Establishing a KeePass database

As soon as I obtained to this clean dashboard, I went over to the menu bar and hovered over File and clicked New.

It will immediate KeePass to start out 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 offer a grasp password for my database.The grasp password is vital as a result of it serves as your major key to entry your KeePass databases. In idea, that is the one password you will have to manually create and keep in mind, as KeePass has a built-in password generator that may create random and safe passwords.

Clicking on “Present professional choices” brings up KeePass’ two choices for multi-factor authentication (MFA): key file and linking to a Home windows person account.

Selecting key file helps you to set a file to avoid wasting — in your pc, a USB flash drive, or one other gadget — 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 helps 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 title for the brand new database.

SEE: Penetration Testing and Scanning Coverage (TechRepublic Premium)

3. Saving a brand new entry with KeePass

Now that we’ve obtained a database to work with, it’s time to avoid wasting our first password entry. As we noticed, KeePass consists of two pattern entries while 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 house inside 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. It’s also possible to 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 duplicate the saved username or password.

KeePass incessantly requested questions (FAQs)

Is KeePass really free?

Sure, KeePass is totally free. That is one among its major 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 cellular app?

Whereas KeePass doesn’t have an official cellular software per se, it has a lot of cellular ports that had been created by its neighborhood members. As of publication, KeePass had six Android ports and 5 iOS ports listed on their official web site.

What are KeePass plugins?

These are downloadable add-ons created by KeePass customers that stretch the performance and options of the bottom shopper. They will vary from having extra multifactor authentication choices, the power to alter the looks of KeePass, or bake in 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 you have that open, extract the ZIP file of your downloaded plugin and duplicate the extracted folder into the KeePass “Plugins folder.” Afterwards, restart the KeePass software to correctly load your new plugin.

Be sure that your chosen plugin is appropriate with the model of KeePass you will have put in in your pc.

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. It’s also possible to go to its robust neighborhood discussion board discovered on SourceForge to get some help from different KeePass customers.

The place ought to I maintain my KeePass database?

I counsel you to retailer your KeePass database on a number of areas. Except for having a replica in your major pc, you can even retailer it on a separate USB flash drive, an exterior onerous drive or SSD, or a secondary machine.

This ensures that you’ve a backup of all of your information and likewise provides you extra methods to entry your logins everytime you want them.

Some customers select to avoid wasting their database information on the cloud for comfort and simpler entry. Nonetheless, this will increase the chance of your information being leaked on-line so ensure that your chosen cloud storage technique is safe.

What we consider KeePass

In our full evaluation, KeePass obtained a ranking of three.2 out of 5 stars. We highlighted its customizability and distinctive plugin system as its major standout options. This makes it a chief selection for energy customers that need a safe and customized password supervisor expertise.

Sadly, its unintuitive person interface, steep studying curve, and dated design make it onerous to advocate for much less tech savvy customers, particularly in comparison with different password managers.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full KeePass evaluation.