Can't sync 1Password on iPhone with 1Password on Mac

DBrown

This discussion was split from the 1PW on iOS/Mac & Windows/Android thread in the 1Password for Windows forum.

Alfonso

Hi again !
more help needed - last time, I was able to sync my iPhone5 (iOS 8.1.3) with my MacBook (Yosemite 10.10.1). I had installed 1Password 4, then it saids that an update is there - I updated to 1Password 5.
And I'm not longer able to sync between my two devices ? On the iPhone it says "start 1Password 4" ...
Sometimes my MacBook is visible in the list, sometimes not ... !? When it is there - no sync possible ...

I'm confused - is my App on the iPhone not able to sync with 1PW5 ?

Thank you for make me understanding ?

DBrown

Alfonso, as this question doesn't apply to 1Password for Windows, I'm moving it to the 1Password for iOS forum, where it'll get the attention of folks with greater knowledge about that product.

Drew_AG

Hi @Alfonso,

It sounds like you're having trouble with Wi-Fi sync between 1Password on your Mac and on your iPhone. Is that correct?

If so, and if it was previously working, please try disabling Wi-Fi sync in 1Password on your iPhone (from the 1Password app, go to Settings > Sync > Sync Service > Disable Sync). Now try setting up Wi-Fi sync again, making sure you follow the steps here.

If you have trouble with that, please let us know exactly what happens. Also, let us know the exact version of 1Password on your iPhone (you can find that in the 1Password app on the Settings screen, right below the Recommend 1Password option). Thanks!

Alfonso

Good evening Drew_AG
thank you for trying to help me :-)
I'm still not succesfully with your tipps.
First: on my iPhone is no settings - sync - sync service - disable sync available. On my iPhone it has settings - sync - start sync and there I can choose with iCloud (not my favorite), with DropBox (perhaps later with my old laptop) and with WLAN (yes please !!!). There I say actualize list and it shows my MacBook Pro (with my local ip adress). The key is correct typed in (before I had created a new one in 1PW), say starting sync and the error message appears: syncproblem, the server adress ist not available. Pressing more infos: SyncError
Domain=com.agilebits.onepassword.ErrorDomain Code=7001 "Server adress ist not available" UserInfo=0x16f2f240
{NSLocalizedDescription=Server adress is not available}.

Trying a second time: error message appears: syncproblem
Error Domain=NSPOSIXErrorDomain Code=61 "The operation couldn't be completed. Connection refused"

Second: on my Mac I've installed 1PW5 and on my iPhone the app is v5.2 ! But: when I'm starting the sync process where my Mac is listed - there is a text information which says "open 1Password 4 for Mac" ... ?

I'm really confused - and yes, it was working at the beginning from my time with 1Password - then I used version 4 on my Mac. I can't remember me, that I had also updated once my app on the iPhone.

Hope, this are helpfully informations for you.
Thank you for your help.
Alfonso

ag_kevin

@Alfonso,

If it just says "Start Syncing" that means sync is already disabled.

Regarding the text that says "open 1Password 4", it is an error that will be fixed in the next update. It just means open 1Password on Mac or Windows.

Something else I'd like you to try is to check to see if the Firewall settings are turned on in System Preferences > Security > Firewall. If so, add an entry for 1Password and see if it helps. If it does not, try turning Firewall off temporarily and see if it works then.

Please let us know how that works out. Thanks.

Alfonso

Hi Hayesk

if tested a little bit around - and playing with my firewall is not in my mind ...

Entering a new login - after some seconds my windows laptop pops up with dropbox sync - open 1PW - the new login is there ! Perfect :-)

1PW still open on my MacBook - open 1PW on my iPhone - no sync is defined. Starting it, sometimes I must pressure 10-20 times "update list" to find my MacBook. Then exactly one time it sync with it.
Cloesed all 1PW's and re-opened - it was not more able to sync between Mac and iPhone - the server error messages appears and appears ...

From my point of view: 1PW looks great, but working between Mac & iPhone not really solved, that I want to use it ... ! Sync with Windows Laptop works great, but I'm not really happy to use DropBox for it ...

Conclusion: I put it away - to much time consuming and to much frustrating - I still using my old PasswortSafe - programm with USB-Stick (unfortunatly not on my Mac).

Thank you all for helping.
Regards Alfonso

Megan

Hi @Alfonso ,

I'm so sorry to hear that you don't think that 1Password is for you. As we've mentioned above, the firewall on your system could be blocking communication between the iOS and Mac apps and causing this frustration. You certainly don't have to disable your firewall altogether, we just need to ensure that 1Password is on the list of allowed communication.

If you change your mind and would like to work through this, we'd be more than happy to help you get things sorted out.

Alfonso

Hi Megan
I understand good what's goal - but be aware, that I installed 1PW 4 on my Mac and iPhone, than both Apps told me that there is an update available, I installed it and it doesn't work proper anymore ... !
Yesterday, I was aible to sync one time with my iPhone (I havn't changed my firewall) - so it comes definitly not from the firewall.
My feeling is, that the app on the iPhone is not good working ...

Anyway, thank you also for your help.

littlebobbytables

Hi @Alfonso,

As Megan said, if you change your mind and would like to see if we can help get everything running smoothly once more you know where we are. We actively monitor the forums so we'll see your post.

HiDevin

I've been having the same problem since updating.
My firewall is off so that is NOT the problem. I agree with Alfonso that the problem is on the 1Password app side.
Additional note: I have tried numerous times to update the app on my mac but it keeps saying there is a problem and to retry. I have tried from the "alternate" site as well but the error is the same.
I have really enjoyed the convenience of 1Password for years now so I really hope that you can find a way to fix the issue so you don't lose more clients to other password management options.
Regards,
Devin

marsofearth

I am sure Alfonso is merely the tip of the iceberg in my experience with customer relations. Usually much less than 0.25% of application users voice a concern when trouble arises. Two voices cements a trend, and a third is certainly a blocking issue.

Not to say that the blocking issue is dependently due solely on part of the app in question. But it is still a blocking issue for the user.

I use 1 Password on my iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Macbook Air.

Sync Works well between my iPad and Mac, sometimes with my Macbook Air, and never with my iPhone. (have to do a manual sync).

I find work-a-rounds and sometimes come see if there are any fixes, and do not complain because I do understand how complex and difficult sync is. But I can also understand how utterly frustrating it is when something that is supposed to work, simply does not.

I still believe 1 Password is the most secure and convenient password manager available, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Cheers,

Mars

littlebobbytables

Hi @marsofearth & @HiDevin,

Wi-Fi Sync relies on Bonjour for device discovery and then unhindered communication between 1Password mini and 1Password for iOS after that. It does mean a number of areas outside of our direct control can affect WI-Fi Sync.

There is no Bonjour without discoveryd, what used to be mDNSResponder. If Bonjour isn't working properly then 1Password doesn't stand a chance. There have been problems with discoveryd, enough so that it looks like Apple are returning to mDNSResponder in 10.10.4 and 10.11. That says a lot in my book and certainly I've found Wi-Fi iTune backups of my iOS devices has been extremely sporadic of late instead of happening each time the device starts to charge. Instead of being backed up every second day I find my devices might be weeks out of date before I realise. I find rebooting at least the iOS device often helps suggesting stale information is being stored.

Bonjour can be affected by a less than willing router. Some people have indeed found Wi-Fi Sync just isn't reliable with router A but works fine with router B.

This is just Bonjour, a system network protocol. We also do rely on 1Password for Mac being able to receive requests, that is act as a server. Groups of applications that might block this do include software firewalls, anti-virus software, proxies or VPNs. It might be one version had a rule to allow communication but a new version of the application (from an update) means the old rule isn't being applied. It depends on the application doing the blocking and how it matches.

None of that is to say we can't do a better job and I'd love to see more informative error messages if possible. What I'm unsure of is if we can make a more robust solution given the potential blocks.

So we'll happily work with both of you to discover what is happening and what it takes to resolve it.

@HiDevin: In regards updating your Mac, have you tried downloading the latest version from our AgileBits Download page and simply overwriting the version that exists in your /Applications/ folder? We'd recommend only doing this with 1Password not running which you can ensure is the case by using the keyboard shortcut ⌃⌘Q to fully close not just 1Password but also 1Password mini.

MichaelL

Add me to the list. I use to wifi sync all the time. I have the latest updates. I just get a message that "connection was refused". Nothing has changed on my Macbook Pro as far as settings go. I never use the OS firewall.

MichaelL

I looked around my router setting and didn't find anything that would block it. I tested my connection to the iPhone and it tested OK. I changed my wifi connection in OS X from automatic to a new connection I named home. I created a new rule in Little Snitch to allow all incoming and outgoing connections from 1PW. I rebooted the router, my MBP and my iPhone. I don't know which did it but the iPhone 1PW app just synced with the OS X app.

Megan

Hi @MichaelL,

I'm glad to hear that you were able to get your devices syncing with Wi-Fi! If I had to guess, I would say that it was the configuration of Little Snitch that worked the magic here.

I hope that 1Password works perfectly for you from now on, but if you have any further questions or concerns, we're happy to help!