On-Device Password Recovery

We understand how frustrating it can be to forget your safe password. That’s why we’ve added a new feature to pwSafe to help you unlock your safe by automatically trying common variations of the password you entered.

Availability

This feature is available in pwSafe version 11.3 and higher.

Your safe must not be protected with Yubikey 2FA.

How It Works

If you enter the wrong password three times in a row, the app will offer to help by trying similar versions of the password you typed. This might include things like adding a number at the end, changing a letter to a capital, or adding a symbol like "!" or "?".

Privacy and Security

Everything happens on your device. Nothing is sent to the Internet or stored anywhere else. Your data stays private and secure.

Understanding the Security of This Feature

We want to reassure you: this feature does not make your safe less secure.

• When the app tries different versions of your password, it’s simply doing what someone could already try manually — just faster and more conveniently.
• It doesn’t “hack” your safe or break through any protections. It only works by guessing passwords based on what you typed.
• This process happens only on your device, and only after you’ve entered a password. No one else can trigger it remotely.
• The goal is to help you get back in — not to make it easier for anyone else.

We’re sharing this to be fully transparent and help you feel confident using the feature.

What You Need to Know

• This process uses your device’s CPU (processor), which can make your device work harder for a while. To avoid draining your battery, we recommend plugging your device into a power outlet before starting.
• The app will let you know if it finds a working password.
• If it doesn’t work, you can still contact support for more help.

Disabling Password Recovery

We understand that some users may be concerned about automated recovery—even though the feature only operates locally and requires a password attempt to begin.

Note: If you're worried that this feature makes your safe easier to access, it may be a sign that your current password isn't strong enough. We strongly recommend updating your safe-password to something more secure—ideally a long, unique combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Also, consider adjusting the Iterations setting as explained in this article. Calibrating your device will make password recovery much less effective.

You can disable the 'Password Recovery' feature in the app’s preferences. When disabled, the app will no longer offer to attempt variations of your entered password after multiple failed attempts.

Whether you choose to enable or disable it, your data remains private and protected.

Troubleshooting

If Password Recovery is not offered after three consecutive unlock attempts, check that a "Wrong password" message is shown on each unlock attempt. Other unlock failures will not trigger Password Recovery. If the issue persists, also make sure that Password Recovery is not disabled as described above.

Need More Help?

If the app can’t find your password, you can still use our recovery service. Visit this page to learn more.

We hope this new feature makes it easier to get back into your safe!