Northwestern faculty and staff with a 1Password Business account are eligible for a free 1Password Families account. This allows you to securely manage personal credentials and share vaults with up to five family members.
Steps to Redeem
- Sign in to your University account at (northwestern-school/unit.1password.com).
- Click your name in the top right corner and select Manage Account.
- Under the “Claim your free family account” section, click Redeem Now.
- Choose one of the following options:
- Sign up for a new Families account:
- Use your personal email address to create the account.
- Apply to an existing Families account:
- Log in to your family account and click Apply.
- If you sign in to an individual account, you will be prompted to convert it to a family account.
Key Details
- Your Families account remains active as long as it’s linked to your Northwestern 1Password Business Account.
- If you leave the University, your family account will be unlinked from the Northwestern 1Password Business Account, and it will enter into a complimentary trial period. You can add a payment method to continue with your 1Password Families subscription.
Key Differences Between University and Family Accounts
| Feature |
Business Account |
Family Account |
| Management |
Managed by Northwestern IT |
Managed by you |
| Subscription |
Paid for by Northwestern |
Free when linked to a business account. Paid for by you if/when you leave the university |
| Shared Vaults |
Accessible to Northwestern users |
Accessible only to you and family members. |
| Policies |
Northwestern IT applies risk policies |
Your vaults are private to you |
| Account Deletion |
Can be deleted by Northwestern IT |
Only deletable by the family organizer |
FAQs
Can the university access my Families account?
No, your Families account is private. Northwestern IT administrators can only see whether you’ve redeemed the free Families account.
What happens if I leave Northwestern University?
Your University account will be suspended, unlinking your Families account.
You’ll have 14 days to add a payment method or export your data.
After 14 days, your Families account enters a read-only frozen state, but your data remains safe.
What if I already have a personal 1Password account?
You can link your existing personal account and use it for free while you have an active 1Password Business account with NU.
If I need help with my Families account, where should I go?
Visit the 1Password customer support knowledge base.
Contact 1Password Support for direct assistance.
Troubleshooting Tips
Linking Accounts in Different Regions:
If your Families account is in a different region, click Sign in to another account at the bottom of the linking page and choose the correct region.
In-App Purchases:
If you subscribed via an in-app purchase on Apple or Android and encounter issues redeeming your free account, contact 1Password Support for help.
Frozen Accounts:
Ensure your family account is listed under My Profile in your University account. If it becomes frozen after leaving Northwestern, add a payment method to continue using the account.