Practical Examples of Using the LastPass Command-Line Interface (with Examples)

LastPass command-line interface (CLI) provides an efficient way to interact with the LastPass password manager directly from the terminal. In this article, we will explore 8 different use cases of the LastPass CLI, including logging in, checking login status, listing sites, generating passwords, and displaying passwords for specified entries. Let’s dive into each use case with code examples to understand how to utilize the LastPass CLI effectively.

1. Logging in to Your LastPass Account

To start using the LastPass CLI, you need to log in to your LastPass account. This can be done with the login command. Here’s an example:

lpass login myemail@example.com

In this example, myemail@example.com is the username associated with your LastPass account. When you run the login command, you will be prompted to enter your master password. This authentication step ensures secure access to your vault.

2. Checking Login Status

After logging in, you can use the status command to check your login status. This command is useful to quickly verify that you have successfully logged in and are ready to perform other actions. Use the following code:

lpass status

The status command will display information about the current login session, including the username and the session duration. This confirmation ensures that you are properly authenticated.

3. Listing All Sites Grouped by Category

LastPass organizes your saved sites in different categories, making it easier to manage your credentials. The ls command allows you to list all the sites grouped by category. Use the following code:

lpass ls

This command will output a structured list of all your saved sites, categorized for easier navigation. Each entry will display the site’s name, username, and group/category it belongs to.

4. Generating a New Password and Adding it to LastPass

The LastPass CLI can generate secure passwords for you. You can specify a username, a URL, and an identifier to store the generated password in the LastPass vault. Use the generate command with the following code:

lpass generate --username myusername --url gmail.com myinbox 16

In this example, myusername is the username associated with the generated password, gmail.com is the website URL, myinbox is the identifier (or name) for this entry, and 16 is the length of the generated password. The generated password will be added to your LastPass vault for easy access.

5. Showing the Password for a Specified Entry

The show command allows you to display the password for a specified entry in your LastPass vault. Use the following code:

lpass show myinbox --password

In this example, myinbox is the identifier (or name) for the entry whose password you want to display. When you execute the show command, LastPass will retrieve the password associated with the specified entry and display it in the terminal.

These are just a few examples illustrating the power and flexibility of the LastPass CLI. With these commands, you can conveniently log in, manage login status, list sites grouped by category, generate secure passwords, and retrieve passwords for specified entries. The LastPass CLI simplifies password management and enhances security by providing a seamless integration with your terminal workflow.