Changes to LastPass Free

We've made changes to how LastPass Free users access LastPass across device types and how they get help. Please review important changes to LastPass Free in these FAQs.

What has changed for LastPass Free, and when?

We’ve made changes to how LastPass Free users access LastPass across device types. LastPass offers access across two device types – Computers (including all browsers running on desktops and laptops) or Mobile Devices (including mobile phones, smart watches, and tablets). As of March 16, 2021, LastPass Free only includes access on unlimited devices of one type. Learn more about device types.

To further clarify what we mean by active device types, we've included two examples below:

Example:

Jamie is a LastPass Free user with Computers as their active device type. They can use LastPass on their laptop, desktop, and their dad’s laptop (anyone’s computer!), but they can’t use LastPass on their phone, tablet, or smart watch unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.
Alex is a LastPass Free user with Mobile Devices as their active device type. They can use LastPass on their personal iPhone, work-issued Android phone, tablet, and smart watch, but they can’t use LastPass on their desktop or laptop unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.

As a LastPass Free user, your first login on or after March 16, 2021 will set your active device type. You have three (3) opportunities to switch your active device type and explore what's right for you. Please note that all of your devices sync automatically, so you’ll never lose access to anything stored in your vault or be locked out of your account due to these changes, regardless of whether you use computers or mobile devices to access LastPass (learn more below).

LastPass Free users who would like unlimited access across all device types can upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families.

Who is impacted by these changes?

All LastPass Free users are impacted by these changes. As a LastPass Free user, the device type (computers or mobile devices) that you use to log in to LastPass – on or after March 16, 2021 – becomes your "active" device type.

You are allowed to change your active device type for up to a maximum of three (3) times, or you can upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access. Learn more about device types.

How has LastPass communicated these changes?

On February 16, March 1, and March 16, 2021, we sent email notifications to all active LastPass Free users about these changes and what to expect. We're sorry if our messages missed you! We also communicated these changes within LastPass via in-product messaging for both active and inactive users upon login on and after February 16, 2021.

Is anything else changing for LastPass Free users?

Yes, effective August 23, 2021, LastPass Free users have Basic support, while Premium and Families users receive Personal support from LastPass.

Basic support includes support center and Community
Personal support includes Basic support options as well as Personal customer support via email

Learn more about these changes.

Is anything changing for LastPass Premium or Families?

No – nothing is changing for LastPass Premium or Families.

Is linked personal account affected by the changes to LastPass Free?

LastPass Teams and LastPass Business accounts who have a personal Free account linked to their company account are not be impacted by the device type limitation in LastPass Free as long as they log into LastPass using their business account credentials. If LastPass business accounts log into LastPass with their LastPass Free credentials, they will be limited to a single device type. Learn more.

Is multifactor authentication affected by the changes to LastPass Free?

No – multifactor authentication is supported for all LastPass account types (including LastPass Free), and is therefore not affected at all by these changes. Learn more.

Where can I go to learn more about these changes for LastPass Free users?

You can find more information about these changes in the LastPass Blog post.

What are the benefits of using LastPass Premium over LastPass Free?

LastPass Premium is your single and secure one-stop shop to your digital life. Go beyond storing passwords and experience complete protection of your digital life with unlimited device type access and advanced security features in LastPass Premium.

Unlimited device type access (both computers and mobile devices)
Security Dashboard & Security Score
Dark Web Monitoring
Emergency Access
One-to-Many Sharing
1 GB File Storage Using Secure Notes
Advanced Multifactor Authentication Options
Personal Customer Support from LastPass (starting August 23, 2021) – learn more

To learn more, please view LastPass Premium FAQs.

Could I lose any of my passwords or data stored in my vault due to these changes?

No, as a LastPass Free user, you will not lose access to any of the passwords or information stored in your vault, regardless of the type of the device that was used when the item was initially added. All devices sync automatically for each user.

For example, if you added a password to your vault from a mobile device in the past but you have now chosen to make Computers your active device type, the password entry still remains in your vault after March 16, 2021 when LastPass Free only supports one device type.

To further clarify what we mean, we've included two examples below:

Example:

Jamie is a LastPass Free user with Computers as their active device type. Jamie has added a lot of passwords and items to their vault, some of which were added when they were using a mobile device. Now that Jamie has chosen to make Computers their active device type, all of their passwords and stored vault items (even those added previously from a mobile device) will continue to be available in their vault. However, to view and manage all passwords and vault items going forward, they must access LastPass from a computer or laptop (as many as they want to use!) unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families which has unlimited device type access.
Alex is a LastPass Free user with Mobile Devices as their active device type. Alex has added a lot of passwords and items to their vault, some of which were added when they were using a computer or laptop. Now that Alex has chosen to make Mobile Devices their active device type, all of their passwords and stored vault items (even those added previously from a computer or laptop) will continue to be available in their vault. However, to view and manage all passwords and vault items going forward, they must access LastPass from a mobile device (as many as they want to use!) unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families which has unlimited device type access.

Note: You can also upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families, which offer unlimited device type access and include automatic device sync, so the items you add to your vault on one device type will show up automatically across all device types where you use LastPass.

You’ll never lose anything you store in LastPass. All devices sync automatically for each user, so you will not lose access to anything stored in your vault, regardless of which device you use to access your LastPass account. You’re the only one who can ever access or manage your vault because LastPass operates on a zero-knowledge security model, therefore your master password is never known to us.

What is a device type?

LastPass Free has two (2) device types – Computers (which includes all web browsers running on desktops and laptops) or Mobile Devices (which includes all iOS/Android phones, smart watches, and tablets).

Computers	Mobile Devices
Desktops and laptops (Windows, macOS, Linux)	iOS and Android phones
Windows tablets	Smart watches
The LastPass browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) Note: Chromebooks using the LastPass browser extension are counted as a "Computers" device type.	Tablets (iPads, Android tablets) Note: Chromebooks using the LastPass app are counted as a "Mobile" device type.

Device type does not refer to the number of devices or operating systems being used to access LastPass, but rather the nature of those devices. LastPass Free users can use LastPass on an unlimited number of devices within their one active device type (either computers only or mobile devices only).

For example:

A LastPass Free user with Computers as their active device type could use LastPass on their personal laptop and work desktop, but they would not be able to use LastPass on their phone unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.
A LastPass Free user with Mobile Devices as their active device type could use LastPass on their iPhone, work-issued Android phone, iPad, and iWatch, but they would not be able to use LastPass on their desktop or laptop unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.

See What are device types? to learn more.

What does this mean for LastPass Free users?

As a LastPass Free user, you do not need to take any direct action at this time. However, if you’d like to continue using LastPass on both your desktop and mobile devices, you can upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families.

Starting March 16, 2021, if you do not upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families, the first device you log in on becomes your active device type.

If you would like to switch your active device type, you can do so a maximum of three (3) times on or after March 16, 2021. Learn how to switch your active device type.

Can I continue to get automatic device sync for LastPass Free?

Yes, but only for devices within your one active device type. If you want to access LastPass on both device types, you must upgrade to LastPass Premium or LastPass Families.

Where can I see my active device type, and how many switches I have left?

You can view your active device type and number of switches left from both computer and mobile device types.

Can I select my active device type for LastPass Free?

The first time you log in to LastPass on a computer or mobile device type after March 16, 2021, that type of device will be registered as your active device type. You have up to three (3) times to switch your active device type, after which your third and final switch is your designated active device type. Learn more.

How do I switch my active device type?

As a LastPass Free user, your first login on or after March 16, 2021 sets your active device type. LastPass Free offers access across two device types – computers (including all web browsers running on desktops and laptops) or mobile devices (including mobile phones, smart watches, and tablets). Starting March 16, 2021, LastPass Free only includes access on unlimited devices of one type. Don't worry! You can switch your active device type up to three (3) times, so you can determine which device type best suits your needs. Learn more about switching active device types.

What happens if I dismiss the message to change my device type?

If you dismiss the message, the other device type continues to be your active device. Dismissing the message does not count as part of your three (3) maximum active device changes.

How many times can I change my active device type?

You can switch your active device type up to a maximum of three (3) times between Computer and Mobile. After the third and final switch, you can use LastPass Free only on the last device type used. This means you can use LastPass on either all computers or all mobile devices, but not both.

If you want to access LastPass on both device types, you must upgrade to LastPass Premium or LastPass Families.

I've changed my active device type 3 times, what happens now?

After the third and final switch, you can use LastPass Free only on the last device type used. This means you can use LastPass on either all computers or all mobile devices, but not both. Learn more.

Could I be locked out of my LastPass account?

No, these changes still allow you to log in to LastPass and access your vault. However, you can only log in from one device type (all computers or all mobile devices) after your third and final switch.

If you are encountering issues with being able to access your LastPass account, please see Recover your lost master password for LastPass.

What happens if I log in on a non-active device type?

If you log in to LastPass Free on a non-active device type and do not switch to have that be your chosen active device type, you’ll have extremely limited access on your restricted vault and will not be able to access any passwords or other items. Learn more.

Can I use account recovery on mobile even if mobile is not my active device type?

Yes, you can use account recovery on mobile even if mobile is not your active device type. Regardless of whether your active device type is Computers or Mobile Devices, you are strongly encouraged to set up Touch ID/Fingerprint or Face ID/Face Unlock so that you can use mobile account recovery for iOS or Android, allowing you to reset your master password using biometrics from that device.

Account recovery for iOS devices – Set up Face ID or Touch ID
Account recovery for Android devices – Set up Fingerprint or Face Unlock (Pixel 4 devices)

Even if you decide that you will never use the LastPass app, setting up mobile account recovery on your current mobile device acts as a safety net in that you can reset your master password using biometrics. Learn more about all account recovery options.

If you would like to terminate your LastPass account in light of this change, you can follow these instructions to delete your LastPass account.