How to Use the Command 'lpass' (with examples)

The lpass command-line interface is a tool for managing passwords using the LastPass password manager. It allows users to utilize various key features of LastPass directly from the terminal. This can be particularly useful for users who prefer the command line or need to automate password management tasks within scripts or terminal environments. It helps in securely managing, storing, generating, and retrieving passwords with ease.

Use case 1: Logging in to Your LastPass Account

Code:

lpass login username

Motivation:

The first step to managing your passwords with LastPass on the command line is to log in to your account. Logging in authenticates you and allows you to manage your stored data securely. It’s a crucial step for any operation with lpass since the tool needs to establish a secure session with your LastPass account in order to retrieve or store any data.

Explanation:

• lpass: Initiates the use of the LastPass CLI.
• login: Specifies that you wish to log in to your LastPass account.
• username: Your LastPass username, typically your email address. This directs the login action to your specific account.

Example Output:

Upon successful execution, expect a prompt requesting your master password. After providing it, you might see a message like:

Success: Logged in as username@domain.com.

Use case 2: Showing Login Status

Code:

lpass status

Motivation:

Keeping track of your login session’s status helps ensure that you have authenticated access before attempting password management tasks. It can also assist in debugging issues when you face difficulties performing actions due to session timeouts or errors.

Explanation:

• lpass: Again, this is calling the LastPass CLI.
• status: The command that checks and reports the current login status of your session.

Example Output:

If logged in:

Logged in as username@domain.com.

If not logged in:

Not logged in.

Use case 3: Listing All Sites Grouped by Category

Code:

lpass ls

Motivation:

Efficiently finding and managing stored credentials is facilitated with the ability to list them. Grouping by category can help you quickly locate passwords related to work, personal matters, or specific projects, thereby improving your organization and productivity.

Explanation:

• lpass: Initiates the LastPass CLI tool.
• ls: Lists all stored entries in your vault, organized by category for easier navigation.

Example Output:

A list might look like:

Social Media/Facebook
Email/Gmail
Banking/Chase

Use case 4: Generating and Adding a New Password

Code:

lpass generate --username username --url gmail.com myinbox password_length

Motivation:

Creating secure, random passwords for your accounts is a vital practice for maintaining digital security. The ability to generate and save a password directly to your vault without switching contexts saves time and ensures that strong passwords are always used and stored correctly.

Explanation:

• lpass: Starts the command.
• generate: Calls upon the system’s capacity to create a password.
• --username username: The username associated with this password.
• --url gmail.com: Specifies the URL with which the password should be associated.
• myinbox: A unique identifier for the entry, helping differentiate it in the future.
• password_length: The desired length of the generated password for strength and complexity.

Example Output:

A new password is generated (output might not be visible directly), and you see a confirmation similar to:

Generated password for gmail.com: myinbox

Use case 5: Showing Password for a Specified Entry

Code:

lpass show myinbox --password

Motivation:

Retrieving passwords on demand allows you to access your credentials when needed for login or sharing purposes. This feature is essential to gain quick access to your stored passwords without navigating through a browser or graphical interface.

Explanation:

• lpass: Invokes the LastPass CLI.
• show: Command to view an entry’s details.
• myinbox: Specifies the unique identifier for the entry of interest.
• --password: Indicates that you want to reveal the password for the specified entry.

Example Output:

The password associated with the entry is displayed:

Your requested password: Xx123Str0ngPwd!

Conclusion:

The lpass command-line interface streamlines your interaction with the LastPass password manager by bringing powerful features directly into the terminal environment. With examples such as login management, entry listing, password generation, and retrieval, users can easily incorporate secure password management into their workflows, enhancing both security and efficiency.