Methods to Recover Forgotten Passwords
2024-04-18 11:56:27 • Filed to: Software for Reseller • Proven solutions
Let's see if this sequence of events sounds familiar: You use a password manager like LastPass - Forgot LastPass Master Password - Can't access any of your logins - Can't use Internet banking or mobile banking - Confused, upset, and frustrated. Does any of that ring a bell? It should - because if there's anything worse than getting locked out of one online account, it's getting locked out of all your online accounts. Fortunately, if you lost or forgot your LastPass master password, there's a way to recover it right now. And we're going to show you how it's done.
4 Methods to Recover Forgotten LastPass Master Password
There are several ways to recover your master password if you ever forget it. Unfortunately, calling Customer Service isn't on that list. Your unified password is only available to you and can't be seen or even reset by anyone inside LogMeIn, the company behind LastPass. So you will need to try one of these methods shown below, depending on your exact situation. To make it easier, we've segregated them into situation-based categories:
Method 1: One Time Password for Recovery
Prerequisites: You have the LastPass browser extension enabled and you've used that to sign in at least once. Since there could be confusion around which device you used for your last login and which browser the extension was installed in. For that reason, you only receive an email with the Recovery One Time Password when the device-browser combination matches. Here are the steps involved:
- Go to the LastPass recovery page and input the email ID you use for the service.
- Assuming that the security email option is enabled, you will receive a recovery link to that email address.
- Open the email and follow the recovery link. You'll see instructions on how to reset your password. Just follow them to create a new password, and further authenticate it if you have MFA set up.
- When you get a confirmation message saying the password reset was successful, you can log out and log in again with the new password.
Note: It's always advisable to set a password hint when you set a fresh password. If you've already done that, then there's another way to get into your locked LastPass account.
Method 2: Password Hint
Not many people pay heed to the humble password hint because most of us don't think that we'll ever forget our passwords. Unfortunately, that's what got you into trouble in the first place, right? If you already have one, just follow these steps:
- Got to the page for ‘forgot LastPass Master Password.
- Put your email ID in the box provided and hit ‘Send Hint'.
- Check your email inbox, look at the password hint and, if it makes you remember the password, use that to log in.
Method 3: Mobile Account Recovery for LastPass Master Password
What if you didn't set a password hint or it doesn't help you remember the actual password. What then? Well, we hope you have your Android/iOS premium smartphone or tablet set up in a way that lets you use your biometric authentication for LastPass. If you have this option, there's nothing easier than authenticating yourself and changing your password as soon as you're in.
As you can see, this particular method will only help if the set up was done prior to you forgetting the master password. If you haven't enabled a recovery email or SMS and you haven't set a password hint, don't give up just yet. There's still one more option.
Method 4: Time-machine it Back to the Previous Master Password
You need a little luck here because the window to do this is only 30 days. However, if you've changed your password within that time, you can have it revert back to the previous one and use that to access LastPass.
- Go to the page for reverting your password.
- Enter your security email. Don't worry if you haven't set one up - you'll just get an email to the registered email account.
- Make sure that you click the email link within 2 hours or it will expire - for your own security, of course. Check the Spam folder, as indicated in the image above.
- In the browser tab that opens, you'll see a link. Click on it and then confirm again when prompted.
Your Master Password is now once again the one you had before you changed it, so you can securely login with that. Unfortunately, if all else fails, your only option is to trash that account and set up a new one. But that also means entering all your credentials from scratch, which nobody wants to do.
The Best LastPass Replacement - 1Password
LastPass is a popular password manager utility, there's no doubt about that. However, if you haven't set up any of the security prerequisites, then you're pretty much out of luck. The only option you're left with is to open a new account and recreate everything from the ground up. On the other hand, 1Password, which is an equally robust password manager with cross-platform functionality, allows you to recover your account in creative ways, such as by using a family member's login or even using the biometric login option on your iOS device.
1Password also offers a whole range of security conveniences, such as:
- a. the easy management of your vaults,
- b. the ability to leverage new authentication methods,
- c. the freedom to migrate your credentials to practically any other device,
- d. the ability to add the extension in your browser for a more intuitive experience, and
- e. easier recovery methods for your lost master password.
Why is Password Better Than LastPass?
For the most part, both password managers work in pretty much the same way, by letting you use a single master password to access all your logins and credentials and save everything in highly protected data vaults. That's why both are market leaders in this space. However, 1Password does have the following advantages:
- Each platform has a ported version that can be used offline as a standalone password manager for your local vaults on that particular device.
- Using multiple accounts on the same site is easier with 1Password because one click on the extension icon and you'll see them listed in front of you. Just click on that one to auto-fill. With LastPass, it attempts to automatically auto-fill, which could lead you to access the wrong account.
- 1Password X acts as a standalone replacement for Chrome's or Firefox's own password managers and offers a great entry point for future users of the core 1Password product. The best part is that you don't need the desktop version in order to be able to use this.
- LastPass merely gives you a look at your security profile but 1Password takes it to a whole new level by categorizing risky logins and helping you take direct action to make them stronger.
- LastPass force-changes your old passwords periodically, but 1Password is more flexible because it gives you the option to change or retain the existing password.
If you're still not convinced, why not try 1Password for a spell and see how you like it. You're bound to be impressed by the UI design and generous feature list, and it comes at an affordable price of as little as $36 for a yearly commitment, which is just $3 a month.
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Audrey Goodwin
chief Editor