1Password Session for Claude Code

Problem

Claude Code executes each Bash tool call in a new subprocess without TTY. 1Password CLI's app integration binds auth to the terminal session, so every op call triggers a biometric prompt.

Solution

Auto-detect the auth mode and configure accordingly:

Mode	Condition	Behavior
Token	op signin --raw returns a token	Cache token in ~/.op-claude-session; wrapper passes --session flag
App Integration	op signin --raw returns empty + op whoami succeeds	Record mode in session file; wrapper calls op directly (IPC with desktop app)

Workflow

/op-session [--account <name>]
     │
     ▼
 op signin --raw
     │
     ├─ token non-empty ──► Token mode
     │                       Verify → write session file → done
     │
     └─ token empty ──► op whoami succeeds?
                          ├─ YES → App Integration mode
                          │        Write session file (no token) → done
                          └─ NO  → ERROR: signin failed

Usage

Initialize Session

bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-session-init.sh
# or with specific account
bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-session-init.sh --account my-team

List Available Accounts

bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-session-init.sh --list

Check Session Status

bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-session-init.sh --check

Clear Session

bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-session-init.sh --clear

Subsequent op Calls (Recommended)

Use the secure helper script — it handles mode detection, token loading, validation, and expiry:

bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-with-session.sh read "op://vault/item/field"
bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-with-session.sh item list --vault Production
bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-with-session.sh whoami

The helper:

• Auto-detects auth mode from session file (OP_AUTH_MODE)
• Token mode: passes --session and --account flags
• App mode: passes only --account flag (auth via desktop app IPC)
• Validates session before each call
• Returns clear error if session is missing, expired, or app is locked

Session Lifecycle

Event	Token Mode	App Integration Mode
Idle timeout	30 min → expires	10 min → expires (auto-refresh on use)
Each op call	Resets idle timer	Resets idle timer
Hard limit	12hr	12hr
1Password app locks	Does NOT revoke token	Next op call fails until unlocked
/op-session --clear	Removes session file	Removes session file

Session File Format

# Token mode
export OP_AUTH_MODE='token'
export OP_SESSION='<session-token>'
export OP_ACCOUNT='<account-id>'

# App Integration mode
export OP_AUTH_MODE='app'
export OP_SESSION=''
export OP_ACCOUNT='<account-id>'

Legacy session files (without OP_AUTH_MODE) are auto-detected as token mode if OP_SESSION is non-empty.

Security

Aspect	Token Mode	App Integration Mode
Token at rest	~/.op-claude-session (owner-only via umask 077)	No token stored
Process args	--session $TOKEN visible to same-user processes	No --session flag
Auth control	Token possession = access	Desktop app biometric
Scope	All vaults you can access	All vaults you can access
Risk level	Moderate (token on disk)	Lower (no token on disk)
Mitigation	Short-lived token, --clear when done	App auto-manages session

Known Limitations

Limitation	Cause	Workaround
ls on home-dir paths blocked in ! context checks	Claude Code sandbox may restrict ls/find to working directory in command template expansion	Use test -f via bash -c wrapper; see skills/op-session/SKILL.md
allowed-tools cannot be narrowed to specific script paths	${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} unavailable in command markdown (#9354)	Keep Bash(bash:*) until upstream fix
Context check is best-effort UI	Sandbox policy may tighten	Authoritative status via bash skills/op-session/scripts/op-session-init.sh --check
App mode fails when desktop app is locked	CLI cannot IPC with locked app	Unlock 1Password app, or run /op-session to reinitialize

Prerequisites

• 1Password CLI (op) installed and configured
• 1Password desktop app running (for initial biometric auth)
• Account signed in to 1Password app