The Chalkboard


Using 1Password desktop with Ubuntu's Snap packaged Firefox

Published: [2026-08-21 Fri 13:40] (Last Updated: [2026-08-23 Sun 00:49])

Prerequisites

Install the deb release of 1Password

1Password themselves recommend using the .deb package method of installing as there are some limitations to running the application in a container like Snap or Flatpak. As things are subject to change as time goes on, I'll just link to the installation page here.

Install Flatpak

This might sound counterintuitive, as we're dealing with Snap, but Snap currently uses the flatpak commands for managing things like permissions. This can be installed with apt. It can be removed after, though there's no harm leaving it installed.

sudo apt install flatpak

Giving XDG Portal permissions

Next, we need to use the flatpak command to give XDG portal permissions to allow 1Password to receive native messaging from Firefox

flatpak permission-set webextensions com.1password.1password snap.firefox yes

Add xdg-desktop-portal to 1Password's allowed list of browsers

This is the bit that also sounds a bit weird, but we need to add xdg-desktop-portal as a "Trusted Browser" in 1Password. Whilst it's not a browser itself, it is the application that will talk to the 1Password desktop application on Firefox's behalf.

echo "xdg-desktop-portal" | sudo tee -a /etc/1password/custom_allowed_browsers > /dev/null

After doing this, restart 1Password.

Install the 1Password extension into Firefox

Now, you should be able to simply install the 1Password extension in Firefox, and it should automatically connect to the desktop app.


DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website is generated from my own notes and is provided "as is" and without warranties. Robert Ian Hawdon can not be held responsible for damages caused by following a guide published on this site. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are provided as convienice of the reader. I do not endorce the contents of these third party sites.