This article will show you how to sync your database file across several devices as well as how to set up Keepass in Google Chrome and Vivaldi. Although I will be using Google Chrome for this tutorial, the process is exactly the same for the Vivaldi browser.
Syncing Your Keepass Database File Across Devices
As I mentioned earlier, Keepass does not provide the option to synchronize your database file (ending with .kdb or .kdbx) across multiple devices, so you have to do this yourself. The easiest way is to place your database file in a cloud storage folder such as Google Drive or Dropbox so that changes to the file can be synced across all your devices as soon as they are made, and you can simply open the file directly from the filesystem. Keep in mind that if your cloud storage account is compromised, all your passwords may be at risk, especially if you do not use a strong master password. If you want to sync your database file in the cloud, try to create a very strong master password that will encrypt your passwords securely and make them hard to decipher.
Integrate Keepass in the Browser
Integrating Keepass in Google Chrome and Vivaldi is made possible using browser extensions. There are several available, but the one I use and recommend is the CKP Keepass Integration extension which provides read-only access to your Keepass database file, making it available for use at the login page of the websites you visit. What this means is that you cannot create new passwords with this extension; you have to use the Keepass app for that, but all of your already existing passwords can be accessed with CKP.
Installing CKP
To install the CKP Keepass extension, you need to visit the application page on the Chrome Webstore, and click the “Add to Chrome” button on the right-hand side.
Once the extension is installed, it will be displayed in the address bar along with your other extensions (if any). You’ll need to complete the one-time setup to be able to use Keepass in your browser.
Setup and Authentication
Setting up the extension is straightforward. Just click on the CKP icon on the address bar, and you will be taken to the Settings page, or you can enter chrome://extensions/ in your browser (Vivaldi users should enter vivaldi://extensions/), navigate to the CKP extension and click “options” to view the settings for the extension.
Once you’re on the Settings page, click the “Keepass Databases” tab. Here, you’ll need to connect your database file to the extension via your cloud storage. There are only three options available: Google Drive, Dropbox, and Onedrive. If you use any others, you’re out of luck here.
There’s also an option to upload from your filesystem, but CKP no longer supports this feature because the database files stored this way won’t update themselves, and you will need to re-upload the file every time you make changes to your database which could be very tedious. Assuming you use any one of the three cloud storage options supported, you can click your preferred option to add your database file from there. You will be prompted to log in and authenticate CKP’s request to read your cloud storage files. Accept this and you will have your Keepass database file available for use.
Adding a Key File (Optional)
If your Keepass database requires a key file for authentication, you’ll need to navigate to the “Key Files” tab to upload that from your filesystem.
Using CKP
CKP automatically detects the login pages of websites and allows you to retrieve your password from the database that you connected to it in the previous step. To do this you need to click the icon in the address bar (or use the “Ctrl + Shift +Space” shortcut) and select the database that holds your passwords. Then you’ll need to enter your master password to unlock the database.
Once your databse file is unlocked, you can copy the password from the extension by hitting the “copy” link and pasting it into the password field manually, or you can authenticate CKP to autofill the fields for you if you wish.
Depending on the way your password database is set up, you may be presented with the exact site you’re on as the first option to copy from, but if that’s not the case, you will have to search for the entry manually.
Bottom Line
As you can see, setting up Keepass in your browser isn’t all that hard and is very rewarding because you no longer have to open the Keepass app to access your login information every time. Let us know if this tutorial helps you out in the comments section below.
