iOS/iPadOS Application/Extension Clarification

Hello @bspachman! 👋

Thanks for the questions, I've replied to your Mac questions in the other thread. I'll reply to these iOS-specific questions below:

I can't seem to find a clear explanation of why I should install the iOS Safari extension instead of (or in addition to) using the system's auto-fill capability. Can someone enlighten me?

As you mentioned, there are two different ways to save and fill password in Safari on iOS. Password AutoFill is specifically handled by iOS and 1Password only provides the data for the experience. It allows you to fill your username and password into any iOS app but not other things like credit cards or addresses. You can read more about Password AutoFill here: Use 1Password to fill and save in apps and browsers on your iPhone and iPad

If you're using Safari then I recommend that you use our 1Password for Safari extension. 1Password for Safari features greatly improved filling capabilities and offers an experience that is similar to what you're already used to with 1Password for the browser on the desktop. Not only does it use 1Password's powerful filling brain to better detect fields on websites but it also includes support for things like masked email aliases, on-page password suggestions, the filling and saving of credit cards and addresses, and more.

Here is a guide on how to enable 1Password for Safari on devices running iOS and iPadOS 15 or later: Get to know 1Password for Safari on your iPhone or iPad

One of the main drawbacks to using the extension (I've learned through both experience and searching through the forums) is that it shows a different set of passwords compared to the system auto-fill since the iOS extension doesn't have the capability to 'filter' by Collection. Any plans for that to change? It was a big point of confusion to me.

I don't have any news to share about adding support for collections to 1Password in the browser but I've passed along your request for this feature to our development and product teams.

PS. The forum software doesn't seem to let me use my magic trackpad to scroll within the main text entry window--it only moves the whole page....

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, we've reported this to our forum software vender and hopefully it will be fixed in the future.

-Dave

ref: dev/core/core#6045
ref: PB-36169618

Dave--thanks again for the quick reply...

I can't seem to find a clear explanation of why I should install the iOS Safari extension instead of (or in addition to) using the system's auto-fill capability. Can someone enlighten me?
As you mentioned, there are two different ways to save and fill password in Safari on iOS. Password AutoFill is specifically handled by iOS and 1Password only provides the data for the experience. It allows you to fill your username and password into any iOS app but not other things like credit cards or addresses. You can read more about Password AutoFill here: Use 1Password to fill and save in apps and browsers on your iPhone and iPad

If you're using Safari then I recommend that you use our 1Password for Safari extension. 1Password for Safari features greatly improved filling capabilities and offers an experience that is similar to what you're already used to with 1Password for the browser on the desktop. Not only does it use 1Password's powerful filling brain to better detect fields on websites but it also includes support for things like masked email aliases, on-page password suggestions, the filling and saving of credit cards and addresses, and more.

Here is a guide on how to enable 1Password for Safari on devices running iOS and iPadOS 15 or later: Get to know 1Password for Safari on your iPhone or iPad

This explanation is a little clearer to me than the situation on macOS ;-)

Since my particular usage is very focused on passwords (and not on masked email or credit cards), and since that although the iOS Safari extension is quite capable in a lot of areas, its unfortunate limitation of accessing only your entire 1P database or a single vault--and not collections--it seems like I don't need the extension at this point.

Also, reading the above-linked support pages carefully seems to imply that the burgeoning passkey support is tied to the iOS side of filling things (system auto-fill).

So...since the magic 'key' icon gives me the ability to create new logins and generate passwords, and since iOS Safari itself will autofill addresses, etc., the extension seems a little superfluous.

I'll disable the extension for now, and give it shot again down the line. My suggestion to the team is to see if there's a better/clearer way to communicate WHY I should enable either iOS AutoFill or the 1P iOS Safari extension, and what trade-offs I make when I choose not to use one (or the other).

Thanks!

@bspachman

Thanks for the reply. Here's a table that I made that might help:

You can certainly use AutoFill exclusively if you wish, lots of people do. Let me know know if you have other questions. 🙂

-Dave

Dave,

That's beautiful! I encourage the documentation team to include that info on the iOS pages :-)

One small addition--I'd give iOS AutoFill a green check for doing OTP since 1P for iOS can copy those codes to the clipboard automatically (and does a great job doing so!)

This really clarifies things for me. I hope other users find your efforts useful too!

Best,
Brad

On behalf of Dave, you're welcome.