Prerequisites
Before using QtPass, you need:
-
GPG key pair - QtPass uses GPG for encryption. If
you don't have one,
create one.
-
pass (optional but recommended) - The command-line
password manager.
Install pass.
Step 1: Install QtPass
Download QtPass for your platform:
Step 2: Configure QtPass
On first launch, QtPass opens the configuration dialog. Key settings:
-
Password Store - Where your passwords are stored
(default:
~/.password-store)
-
GPG Program - Usually
gpg or
gpg2
-
Git Executable - Enable if you want to sync via Git
Click OK to save, then click
Initialize to create a new password store.
Step 3: Initialize Your Password Store
QtPass needs a password store to work with. You have two options:
Option A: Create a new store
- Click the Initialize button in QtPass
- Select your GPG key(s) for encryption
-
Choose where to store your passwords (default:
~/.password-store)
Option B: Use existing store
-
If you already use
pass, just point QtPass to your
existing store
-
Go to Config and set the password store directory
Step 4: Add Your First Password
-
Click the + button or press
Ctrl+N
- Enter a name (e.g.,
github.com)
-
Add your password and any other details (username, URL, notes)
- Click Save
Step 5: Copy Password to Clipboard
- Select the password entry in the list
- Press Ctrl+C or click the copy button
-
The password is copied and will auto-clear after configurable
seconds
Step 6: Sync Across Devices (Optional)
QtPass works great with Git for syncing your password store:
- Initialize a Git repository in your password store
- Add a remote (GitHub, GitLab, self-hosted, etc.)
- QtPass can automatically push/pull changes
Next Steps
Learn more about QtPass features in the
Advanced Usage guide, including:
-
Profiles - Use multiple password stores (e.g., work
and personal) via the profile dropdown
-
OTP Codes - Generate time-based one-time passwords
for 2FA accounts
-
Template Fields - Customize password entries with
custom fields like URLs, usernames, or notes
-
FAQ - Common questions and
answers
-
Security Considerations
- Important security notes
-
Downloads - More installation options
-
API Documentation - Developer documentation