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VaderIsLukesDad
January 30, 2026
Question

How do I skip password entry and go directly to Windows Hello?

  • January 30, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 239 views

I am using Firefox, the 1Password Firefox extension, and the Windows app in Windows 11. Whenever 1Password locks, it requires my main password to unlock, displaying the message, "You need to enter your account password before you can use Windows Hello." How can I just go directly to Windows Hello, without entering my password? I already have "Unlock using Windows Hello" and "Show Windows Hello prompt automatically" selected in the security settings.

3 replies

1P_Gem
1P_Gem
1Password Employee
January 30, 2026

Hi @VaderIsLukesDad, thanks for your question!

To confirm, is this happening with every unlock, or only the first unlock after a restart (of 1Password or your device)?

If this is happening with every unlock, could you let me know whether you're completing or cancelling the Hello prompt that appears after entering your account password?

If it's only happening for the first unlock after a restart, this would be the expected behaviour for your current settings. To allow Hello unlock to persist through a restart, you can follow the steps below:

  1. Open and unlock the 1Password desktop app.
  2. In the top left, next to the word 1Password, click ⋮ > Settings > Security.
  3.  Enable the option to Unlock using Windows Hello.
  4.  Enable the option to Use your device's Trusted Platform Module to unlock. (If you have Unlock with device turned on, you'll need to switch that off first.)
  5. Quit the app when prompted, and relaunch it.
  6. Enter your account password, and approve the Windows Hello prompt that follows, in order to complete the setup process.
  7.  Go back into Settings > Security, and adjust the option to Require account password: to your preferred interval. As long as you've followed the above steps correctly, you should see a list of options from Every day to Never.

I look forward to hearing from you!

- Gem

    F
    fixmybiometriclogin
    February 3, 2026

    I'm having the same issue. The app has been working as desired for the past 2-3 years, unlocking with Windows Hello, and hardly ever having to type the full password. But in the past few days, I am having to type the full password every single time.

    I followed the steps above, multiple times, and they did NOT get the app working. I even uninstalled 1Password, reinstalled, and followed the steps above again - but I still have to type it every single time.

    I see that there are plenty of others complaining about this, and it seems like for them it is also a distinct change in behavior that started within the past few days to weeks.

    As of now, I have to type the full password every single time - not once a day - not once after a restart - but every single time I unlock it, even if I've unlocked it multiple times in the current Windows session. I didn't change any settings - it just started acting different, presumably after an update, given the way it's affecting others with a similar date of onset.

    1P_Gem
    1P_Gem
    1Password Employee
    February 3, 2026

    Hi @fixmybiometriclogin,

    The behaviour you're seeing definitely isn't expected for your current settings, but there are a few different things that could be causing it.

    So that our team can investigate further, I'd like to ask you to create and share a 1Password diagnostics report from your Windows PC:

    Send a diagnostics report (Windows)

    Attach the diagnostics to an email message addressed to support@1password.com

    With your email please include:

    • A link to this thread: https://www.1password.community/discussions/1password/how-do-i-skip-password-entry-and-go-directly-to-windows-hello/166984/replies/167105
    • Your forum username: Fixmybiometriclogin


    You'll receive a reply from our BitBot assistant with a Support ID number.  Please post that number here.  Thanks!

    P
    pokiyama1970
    January 30, 2026

    I can confirm that this does work when you lock your PC and log back in or if you manually select quit to close the application.  However, I can also confirm that this is not working and hasn't since going to v8.12.1 when restarting or startup when the PC is off.  It always prompts for the password to use Hello Windows.

    1P_Dave
    1P_Dave
    1Password Employee
    January 30, 2026

    However, I can also confirm that this is not working and hasn't since going to v8.12.1 when restarting or startup when the PC is off.  It always prompts for the password to use Hello Windows.

    Thank you for the reply. It sounds like the Trusted Module Platform option, which is required for you to be able to use Windows Hello with 1Password after restarting your PC, may not be turned on or might not be working correctly. Can you post a screenshot of the following screen from inside of the 1Password desktop app: 

    1. Open and unlock 1Password for Windows.
    2. Click your account or collection at the top of the sidebar and choose Settings.
    3. Click Security.


    Add your screenshot to your reply and I'll take a look.

    -Dave

    S
    sidkn33
    March 24, 2026

    I am having this issue but not only on Windows 11 (with Windows Hello setup and previously working fine), but also on Android with 1Password, where I am REPEATEDLY prompted for my password, ignoring every attempt to assert that I should "never" see a password prompt and to rely on Windows hello, Pin, or fingerprint - same on Android, I have the app set to ONLY use fingerprint authentication, yet it constantly asks for my password.
    Although the password prompt has always been annoyingly unreliable and unpredictable this repeated prompting is now so constant that it makes 1Password almost unusable - certainly not a product I will continue paying for.


    Please advise how to fix this.

     

    Trevor_1P
    Trevor_1P
    1Password Employee
    March 24, 2026

    Hi @sidkn33,

    To help us further look into this for you, I'd like to ask you to create some diagnostics reports, one from each of your affected devices:

    * [Send a diagnostics report (Windows)](https://support.1password.com/diagnostics/?windows)

    * [Send a diagnostics report (Android)](https://support.1password.com/diagnostics/?android)

    Attach the diagnostics to an email message addressed to support@1password.com. With your email please include:

    - A link to this thread: https://www.1password.community/discussions/1password/how-do-i-skip-password-entry-and-go-directly-to-windows-hello/166984/replies/168798

    - Your forum username: sidkn33

    You should receive an automated reply from our BitBot assistant with a Support ID number.  Please post that number here.  Thank you!

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