Password Protection

Secure access to your business data with password protection and biometric login integration.

Setting Up Password Protection

Adding a password encrypts your company file so that only you can access it. This is the step that turns encryption on: until a company file has a password, it is stored unencrypted and anyone who obtains the file can read it. See Encryption for what that protects and how.

  1. Go to "Settings"
  2. Select the "Security" tab
  3. Click "Add Password"
  4. Enter and confirm your password

Once a password is set, you'll be required to enter it each time you open the company file.

If you're locked out

Try these in order.

  1. Biometric login, if you enabled it. If Windows Hello or Touch ID is still set up for this file, on this computer, under the same user account, open the file with it. Then go straight to Settings > Security and change the password to something you'll keep.
  2. A backup made before you set the password. A backup from before the password existed isn't encrypted and will open normally. Backups made afterwards use the same password as the file, so those won't help.
  3. Ask us to recover it. Email contact@argorobots.com and we'll walk you through it.

How recovery works

You will have to send us the company file. We confirm you're the owner, unlock it using a key only we hold, and send back a copy with the password removed. You can then open it and set a new password.

We have to be able to confirm the file is yours. Anyone who steals a laptop also has the company file, so simply possessing it isn't proof. Expect us to check it against your account and purchase details before we unlock anything.

Password recovery is a safety net, not a substitute for remebering your password. Make sure to write it down or keep it stored in a password manager.

Changing Your Password

To change an existing password:

  1. Go to "Settings > Security"
  2. Click the "Change" button next to the Password section
  3. Enter your current password, then set a new one

Biometric Login (Premium)

Premium Feature: Biometric login is available with the Premium plan. Compare versions

Argo Books supports biometric authentication on Windows and macOS, allowing you to use fingerprint or facial recognition for quick, secure access instead of typing your password each time.

Enabling Biometric Login

  1. First, set up a password (see above)
  2. In Settings > Security, the "Windows Hello" toggle (on Windows) or "Touch ID" toggle (on macOS) will appear below the password section
  3. Enable the toggle and verify your identity when prompted by your operating system
  4. Next time you open your company file, a biometric login button will appear alongside the password field

Platform Support

  • Windows: Uses Windows Hello (fingerprint reader, facial recognition camera, or PIN)
  • macOS: Uses Touch ID
  • Linux: Biometric login is not currently supported

How Biometric Login Stores Your Password

Biometrics don't replace your password, they unlock it. When you enable the toggle, Argo Books hands your password to your operating system's protected storage, which ties it to your computer and to your signed-in user account. Your fingerprint or face is never seen by Argo Books; the operating system simply confirms it's you and releases the password back.

Two things follow from that:

  • Biometric login only works on that computer, under that user account. Copy the file to another machine and you'll need the password.
  • It is as strong as your computer login. Anyone who can sign in as you could open the file, so keep a strong Windows or macOS account password.
Note: Biometric login requires a password to be set first, and compatible hardware configured in your operating system settings. If your device does not have biometric hardware, the biometric option will not appear in Settings.

Auto-Lock

When a password is set, Argo Books can automatically lock your company file after a period of inactivity. This protects your data if you step away from your computer. You can configure the auto-lock timeout in Settings > Security.

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