A complete guide for beginners

McAfee True Key is a simple password management solution that has a free version and a single paid plan.

In this article, we explain how to set up and use McAfee True Key. We also answer some frequently asked questions about True Key and its features.

1
ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus

Any size of company
Any size of company

Characteristics

Multi-factor authentication, password management, reporting and analytics, and more

How to set up and use McAfee True Key

1. Choose a McAfee True Key subscription

McAfee True Key has two options: a free version and a paid plan.

Figure A

McAfee True Key Pricing. Image: McAfee

Both versions come with the same features, with the main difference that the free version of True Key only allows you to store a maximum of 15 passwords.

Figure B

True Key Free password limit. Image: Luis Millares

If you want unlimited password storage, subscribe to the paid plan for $19.99 per year or about $1.67 per month. Although I recommend trying the free version of McAfee True Key before subscribing to get familiar with the service.

2. Download and configure McAfee True Key

McAfee True Key primarily works as a browser extension, so downloading it from the official website will redirect you to your current browser.

Since I use Google Chrome, I was redirected to the Chrome Web Store after clicking Discharge on the True Key website.

Figure C

McAfee True Key extension for Chrome. Image: Google

Firefox and Microsoft Edge users will be redirected to their respective add-on and extension stores in the same way.

Once downloaded, I was asked to create an account and master password. The master password serves as the primary key to access the True Key vault, so it's important to use one that you can remember and that is difficult to hack.

Figure D

Creating a True Key vault. Image: Luis Millares

As seen in Figure D, True Key asked me to enter a master password with at least eight characters, a number, a symbol, and a combination of lowercase and uppercase characters. True Key also recommended the use of a passphrase, which has recently been recognized as a more secure type of password.

After filling out the necessary information, I arrived at a quick tutorial page showing how to add logins for your existing accounts. After reading the tutorial page, I gained access to the main True Key web portal.

Figure E

McAfee True Key main portal. Image: Luis Millares

3. Save your first login with McAfee True Key

The best way to learn how to use True Key is to save your first login to a new account. To prove it, I created a new account on Udemy.

On the Udemy account creation page, I saw that there was already a True Key logo inside the site's password field. From there, I clicked on the Generate password and True Key automatically created a random password for me.

Figure F

True Key logo on Udemy. Image: Luis Millares

I also clicked on the gear icon to see the options available within the True Key password generator.

Figure G

True Key's password generator defaults to a 16-character password; You can toggle it to have numbers, letters, special characters, capital letters, or a combination of all of these options.

Once I was happy with the password, I created the account and a True Key pop-up appeared at the top of the page.

It asked me to set the username for the Udemy account. After confirming, the popup informed me that the login had been saved to my vault.

Figure H

Password saved notification. Image: Luis Millares

After receiving that notification, I visited the True Key web portal and found that my new Udemy account had been successfully saved.

Figure I

Newly saved login to True Key Vault. Image: Luis Millares

McAfee True Key FAQ

Is McAfee True Key free?

Yes, McAfee True Key has a free version, but password storage is limited: it only allows a maximum of 15 passwords. If you plan to use True Key as a long-term password manager, I suggest paying for the subscription for unlimited password storage.

What operating systems does McAfee True Key support?

McAfee True Key is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. For browsers, True Key is compatible with Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

How do I import passwords into True Key?

Here is a step-by-step guide to import passwords to True Key:

Open your True Key vault.
Click on the Settings icon at the top right.
Then click on the Matter button below the settings icon.
Choose which app or browser you want to import passwords from (Dashlane, True Key, Chrome).
If your app is not in the True Key list, simply click on one of the options.
Drag and drop your .CSV file into the indicated box.

Is the real McAfee key included in Total Protection?

Yes, True Key is included with McAfee Total Protection. This means that if you purchase McAfee's Total Protection software suite, you'll also get access to its True Key password manager.

True Key comes included with McAfee Total Protection Basic, Essential and Advanced.

What if McAfee True Key doesn't work?

If you have any issues with McAfee True Key, you can visit the official McAfee support page and access their guides and knowledge base articles. You can also use McAfee's virtual assistant chatbot and 24/7 live chat for more specific issues.

McAfee also has a support community with threads about different problems and solutions shared by users. In terms of phone support, McAfee has a 24/7 TechMaster support number for customers in the United States and other regions as well.

What we think of McAfee True Key

In our full review, McAfee True Key received a rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars. We highlight its lack of standout features and limited free version as the main reasons for its lower score.

While True Key uses strong AES-256 encryption and offers an affordable premium plan, we think other password managers available can give you more value for your money.

If you want to learn more, read our full McAfee True Key review and analysis.