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Forum Discussion
Delete secret key on iphone for travel to US
I'll be travelling to the US this summer, and I don't want customs to log into all the accounts on my iPhone. I thought I could simply delete 1Password, but with the secret key, it's very easy to download the app and sign in with my master password. Is there a way to delete the secret key so I could honestly tell the border agents that I can't sign into various accounts because I can't sign into my password manager? I've looked into travel mode, and that's not what I want.
Thanks, david
8 Replies
- 1P_Dave
Moderator
Thanks for reaching out! No one can access your 1Password account without the following secrets:
- Your Secret Key.
- Your account password.
As a convenience feature, to make signing into the 1Password apps across multiple Apple devices easier, if you've set up your device with an Apple ID and have iCloud Keychain enabled (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204085), then when you sign into a 1Password membership inside one of our apps for Mac or iOS, the app will write some of your sign-in details to your encrypted iCloud storage.Then, if you go to sign into an account on a different Apple device that's set up with the same Apple ID and iCloudKeychain, the 1Password app there will find the account details stored in iCloud, and will present it as a list of found accounts to make signing into them easier.
It's important to remember that your account password, as well as any second factors that you've added to your account, will still be needed on your Apple device. You can read more here: How your Secret Key protects you
There isn't a way to scrub 1Password from an iOS device so that a forensic search won't reveal that you've used it. For example, a motivated searcher will be able to find indications that you've used 1Password by looking to see whether an app's entry in the app store shows that the app has been downloaded before (it will show a cloud icon rather than "Get").
Can you tell me a little more about why Travel Mode doesn't fit your needs? You can designate a vault containing information that you don't mind letting border agents see as "Safe for Travel" while hiding the rest of your vaults from the app. I look forward to hearing from you.
-Dave
I want to remove the app entirely from my devices then reinstall later. Without losing my data, of course. Travel Mode seems unrelated to this.
- 1P_Dave
Thanks for the reply and I'm sorry for misunderstanding. To remove both the 1Password app for your iOS device as well as the saved 1Password account information in the keychain you can do the following:
🚨 Warning: Before you continue make sure that you have a copy of your Emergency Kit saved somewhere safe and that you're signed into 1Password on another device.
- Turn off iCloud Keychain so that 1Password account information isn't added to your iOS device from 1Password on other Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account: Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Saved to iCloud > Passwords and Keychain > Toggle "Sync this iPhone" off.
- Sign out of 1Password for iOS.
- Remove an account from the sign in list. This will remove your 1Password information from the Keychain.
- Uninstall 1Password for iOS.
I hope that helps!-Dave
Following up on the original question, which I have as well…. Travel Mode is not useful to me. I want to scrub my iOS devices of all evidence of 1Password (and other apps as well) in case my device gets compromised in transit, then reinstall when I arrive at my destination. I understand that I will need my Secret Key in addition to my 1 password. So when I reinstall the app, will my vaults restore automatically?
I'm just about positive that reinstalling will be similar to installing on a new device: you'll need the secret key or have another device with a QR code. Then your vaults will reappear on your device. But I have no idea how to delete my secret key, so I haven't tested this.
It might help us help you if you could explain how Travel Mode. does not achieve what you want, given that it is designed for the exact situation you describe.
