# pass Cheatsheet - Launch Pad

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# pass Cheatsheet

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pass is the standard unix password manager. It stores passwords in GPG-encrypted files organized in a directory tree. Simple, secure, and works with git for syncing.

## Initialization

- pass init <gpg-id> - Initialize password store with GPG key

- pass git init - Initialize git repository in password store

- ~/.password-store/ - Default password store location

## Basic Operations

- pass - Show list of passwords

- pass <entry> - Show password for entry

- pass -c <entry> - Copy password to clipboard

- pass insert <entry> - Insert new password (prompts)

- pass generate <entry> <length> - Generate random password

- pass rm <entry> - Remove password entry

- pass mv <old> <new> - Rename/move entry

- pass cp <old> <new> - Copy entry

## Password Generation

- pass generate <entry> 20 - Generate 20-character password

- pass generate -n <entry> 16 - Generate without symbols

- pass generate -c <entry> 24 - Generate and copy to clipboard

- pass generate -i <entry> - Interactive generation

## Multi-line Entries

- pass insert -m <entry> - Insert multi-line entry

- First line is password, additional lines are metadata

- pass edit <entry> - Edit entry with $EDITOR

## Git Integration

- pass git init - Initialize git repo

- pass git push - Push to remote

- pass git pull - Pull from remote

- pass git log - Show commit history

## Common Examples

### Initialize Store

    pass init your@email.com

Initialize password store with your GPG key.

### Generate Password

    pass generate -c websites/github.com 32

Generate and copy 32-character password.

### Retrieve Password

    pass websites/github.com

Show password for entry.

### Copy to Clipboard

    pass -c websites/github.com

Copy password to clipboard (clears after 45 seconds).

### Multi-line Entry

    pass insert -m accounts/example.com
    # Enter password, then username, then notes

Create entry with password and metadata.

### Git Sync

    pass git init
    pass git remote add origin git@example.com:pass.git
    pass git push

Set up git sync for password store.

## Tips

- Organize passwords in directories (websites/, servers/, etc.)

- Use -c flag to copy passwords without displaying them

- First line of entry is the password, rest is metadata

- Git integration makes it easy to sync across devices

- Works great with browser extensions (passff, browserpass)

- Use pass-otp for TOTP codes

- Simple, auditable, and secure