How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
First Steps Tutorial
A quick tutorial showing you the basic usage of KeePass.
This short tutorial can tell you how to truly use KeePass. It describes only the essential usage, advanced features are covered on separate pages.
Creating a new database
The initial step is creating a new password database. KeePass will store your entire passwords in this database. To produce one, click 'File - New...' however menu or click the leftmost toolbar button. A screen will be, which prompts you for a master password and/or key file. The database will be encrypted with the password you enter here. The password you enter here could be the only password you'll ever have to remember from on now. It must be long and built up of mixed characters. Keep in mind that whenever someone gets your database file and guesses the password, he could access all passwords you stored in the database.
Because of this tutorial, we'll just make use of a password, not a key file. Click to the password edit field and enter a password of one's choice. The password edit control isn't limited in length, so feel absolve to even enter an entire sentence (just remember that you will need to remember it).
KeePass 1.x Only
After clicking [OK], a second dialog appears, in which you have to repeat the master password you just entered in the previous dialog. This is in order to avoid accidental typing errors.
KeePass 2.x Only
After clicking [OK], a second dialog appears. In this dialog you can configure some generic database properties. For now, just leave everything as it is and click [OK].
So you see the key window. On the left, you start to see the entry groups. On the right, you see the actual password entries. The password entries are grouped together into the password groups you see on the left. So, depending which group on the left you selected, it'll explain to you the entries in this group in the right view. KeePass has established a few default groups for you, but you're absolutely free to delete them and create your own ones.
Adding an entry
Time and energy to store your 1st password in the KeePass database! Right-click into the right password entry view and choose 'Add Entry...' .A screen will pop up. In this window now you can edit your entry: enter some title for this, an username, an URL, the particular password, etc. If that you do not need a number of the fields, just leave them empty. When you're done, click [OK].
You'll see your entry in the password list on the best now.
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
| KeePass 2.40 | |
|---|---|
Installer for Windows (2.40): Download NowKeePass-2.40-Setup.exe Download the EXE file above, run it and follow the steps of the installation program. You need local installation rights (use the Portable version on the right, if you don't have local installation rights). | Portable (2.40): Download NowKeePass-2.40.zip Download the ZIP package above and unpack it to your favorite location (USB stick, ...). KeePass runs without any additional installation and won't store any settings outside the application directory. |
| Supported operating systems: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 (each 32-bit and 64-bit), Mono (Linux, Mac OS X, BSD, ...). | |
| KeePass 1.36 | |
|---|---|
| Installer for Windows (1.36):Download Now KeePass-1.36-Setup.exe Download the EXE file above, run it and follow the steps of the installation program. You need local installation rights (use the Portable version on the right, if you don't have local installation rights). | Portable (1.36):Download Now KeePass-1.36.zip Download the ZIP package above and unpack it to your favorite location (USB stick, ...). KeePass runs without any additional installation and won't store any settings outside the application directory. |
| Supported operating systems: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 (each 32-bit and 64-bit), Wine. | |
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
Using entries
You got the new entry in the password list now. So what can you actually do with it now? Right-click onto the entry.
You've several options now. You are able to for example copy the username of the entry to the Windows clipboard. When you've copied it, you are able to post it into some other program of one's choice. Exactly the same works for copying passwords.
Alternatively, you are able to drag&drop fields into other windows. To see an example of how this works, see this site: Drag&Dropping Fields.
KeePass can open the URL you specified. To get this done, just click 'URL(s) - Open URL(s)' in the context menu. KeePass will become the default browser and open the specified URL.
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
Saving the database
It's time and energy to save our database. Click onto the 'Save' toolbar button (looks like a drive; 3rd toolbar button). As you're saving the database the very first time, at this point you need to specify an area where you want the database file to be stored.
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
More
That's it! You've made the very first steps in using KeePass! Now you can have a consider the heightened features of KeePass.
Passwords and Key Files: In the tutorial above we've encrypted the database using a password. But KeePass also supports key files, i.e. you can lock your database using a file (which you are able to carry around on your USB stick for example). It even supports combining those two methods for maximum security.
TAN Entries: TAN entries are one-time passwords. Many banks are utilizing TANs for better security. KeePass supports TAN entries, by making them expire automatically when utilizing them.
Auto-Type: The auto-typing functionality is just a very powerful feature. In the tutorial above you've copied the username and password of an access to the clipboard. Wouldn't it be nice if KeePass would just type those strings for you personally into other windows? Wouldn't it be nice if you may define whole sequences of keypresses that KeePass should type for you personally? That's just what the Auto-Typing feature does: it sends simulated keypresses for you to other windows!
URL Field Capabilities: The URL field supports URLs of course. In the tutorial, you've learned as you are able to enter simple URLs into this field and KeePass will open the browser window for you. Nevertheless the URL field can perform more! It really supports a variety of protocols (not just
http) and supports executing Windows command lines through the cmd:// virtual protocol. The field also comes with a powerful substitution engine, replacing codes by other fields (username, password, ...) with this entry.Command Line Capabilities: You can open .kdb files by passing the filename to the KeePass executable file. But did you understand that you may also send the password for the database and key file location within the command line? You may also use the command line to pre-select a vital apply for you.
Plugins (1.x, 2.x): KeePass features a powerful plugin architecture. In the event that you miss some functionality, have a look at the plugins page to see if you can find other folks that have already written plugins for this. Many plugins exist to import/export data from/to other file formats.
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
General information
When downloading KeePass, you have the decision between 3 different packages:
- KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe: A specialist program for Windows.
- KeePass-2.xx.zip: A KeePass ZIP package (portable version).
- KeePass-2.xx-Source.zip: The origin code.
The installer and the portable version are described at length below.
The foundation code package contains all you need to compile KeePass. It provides the C#/C++ source code and header files, resource files, sources for building the installer, etc.
Updating KeePass:
When a new KeePass version has been released, you are able to update your existing KeePass installation, without losing any configuration settings. The steps are depending on which package you're using (installer or portable), see below.
Translations also needs to be updated when you install a new KeePass version. You can find the newest translation files here: KeePass Translations.
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
Installer program (KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe file)
The KeePass development team offers an installer, which copies KeePass to your hard disk drive, creates shortcuts in the start menu and associates KDBX files with KeePass, if desired.
Additionally, KeePass is automatically configured to store its settings in the applying data directory of the existing user. In this manner multiple users can use one KeePass installation without overwriting each other's settings (each user has his own configuration file). The setup program must run with administrative rights, however KeePass runs fine without administrative rights once it's installed.
Installation:
To install KeePass, run the
KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe file and follow the wizard.Updating:
Run the
KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe file. You do not have to uninstall the old version first. Your configuration options will not be lost.Uninstallation:
To be able to uninstall KeePass, run the uninstallation program, which will be accessible by a shortcut in the start menu folder of KeePass, or in this program part of the system control panel. If additionally you want to remove your configuration settings, you'll need to delete the configuration file in the applying data directory of one's report
Silent Installation:
The KeePass installer
KeePass-2.xx-Setup.exe supports command line switches for silent installation, i.e. this system gets installed without asking an individual for target directory or association options. The default settings of the installer are used.The
/SILENT command line switch performs a quiet installation and shows a status dialog through the setup process. No questions will undoubtedly be asked though.The
/VERYSILENT command line switch performs a silent installation and does not show a status dialog during the setup process.Destination Path:
The installer allows to choose the destination road to which KeePass is installed. However, when the installer detects an existing KeePass installation, it assumes that the consumer wants to execute an upgrade and thus doesn't display the destination path selection page; the old version is going to be overwritten by the newest version. If you wish to move a current KeePass installation to another path, first uninstall the old version; the installer of the newest version will then display the destination path selection page again.
Options/Components:
The installation options/components are explained in detail here: What do the 2.x installation options/components mean in more detail?.
How To Use Keepass On Multiple Computers
Portable version (KeePass-2.xx.zip file)
The portable version can be carried around on portable devices (like USB sticks) and runs on any computer directly from the unit, without any installation. It doesn't store anything on one's body (in contrast to the setup package, see above). KeePass doesn't create any new registry keys and it doesn't create any configuration files in your Windows or application data directory of one's user profile.
Be sure that KeePass has write use of its application directory. Otherwise, when it doesn't have, it'll try to store the configuration options (nothing security-relevant though) into the applying data directory of the currently logged on user. For more about that, see this page
Installation:
KeePass doesn't must be installed. Just download the ZIP package, unpack it with your chosen ZIP program and KeePass is ready to be used. Copy it to a spot of your option (for example onto your USB stick); no additional configuration or installation is needed.
Updating:
Download the newest portable package of KeePass, unpack it and copy brand new files over the old ones. Your configuration settings won't be lost (the settings are stored in the KeePass.config.xml file, which won't be overwritten, because KeePass ZIP packages don't include a KeePass.config.xml file).
Uninstallation:
Simply delete the KeePass folder. This will leave no trace of KeePass in your system.