Use a Primary Password to protect stored logins and passwords

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  • Revision id: 188847
  • Created:
  • Creator: Joergen
  • Comment: [Fx70]"Changing the master password" - no Remove button? See discussion
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: AliceWyman
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: AliceWyman
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Firefox can save usernames and passwords that you use to access online services, such as banking and email websites. If you share a computer with anyone, it is recommended that you use a master password.

After you have defined a master password, you will be prompted to enter it once Firefox needs to access your stored passwords.

Master Password - Win1
Note: After you've set a master password, it needs to be entered the first time you remember a new password or remove passwords and each time you show your passwords, for each Firefox session.

Creating a master password

By default, Firefox does not use master passwords to protect stored credentials. To define a master password:

  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton to open the menu panel.
  2. Click Logins and PasswordsPasswords.

  3. Click the Firefox logins menu Three dot menu, then click OptionsPreferences.

    Firefox logins menuFx122 WIN 3 Dot Menu Options
    • The Firefox Settings Privacy & Security panel will open to the Logins and Passwords section.
    Fx70setting-UseAMasterPassword
  4. Put a checkmark next to Use a master password to open the Change Master Password dialog.
  5. Enter your master password. The Password quality meter will indicate the difficulty of guessing the password. To create a quality password, your master password should include the following:
    • At least one capital letter.
    • One or more digits.
    • At least one non-alphanumeric character, such as the following: @ # $ % ^ & * ( ).
    • Also, remember to make your password something that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess to ensure that you, and only you, will be able to retrieve this secure information. For more information on choosing passwords, see Choose a strong password.
  6. Enter the password a second time to confirm that you have entered it consistently.
    Fx52ChangeMasterPassword
  7. To set the master password, click OK.
  8. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

By default, Firefox does not use master passwords to protect stored credentials. To define a master password:

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Settings (select Preferences on older macOS versions).Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Click the Privacy & Security panel.
  3. Check mark Use a master password.
    Fx57Privacy&Security-UseMasterPasswordFx66UseMasterPasswordFx67UseMasterPassword
    • The Change Master Password dialog appears.
  4. Enter your master password. The Password quality meter will indicate the difficulty of guessing the password. To create a quality password, your master password should include the following:
    • At least one capital letter.
    • One or more digits.
    • At least one non-alphanumeric character, such as the following: @ # $ % ^ & * ( ).
    • Also, remember to make your password something that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess to ensure that you, and only you, will be able to retrieve this secure information. For more information on choosing passwords, see Choose a strong password.
  5. Enter the password a second time to confirm that you have entered it consistently.
    Fx52ChangeMasterPassword
  6. To set the master password, click OK.
  7. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

Removing the master password

If you don't need a master password, you can remove it at any time:

Important: Without a master password, someone with access to your computer can view the passwords you have saved in Firefox.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton to open the menu panel.
  2. Click Logins and PasswordsPasswords.

  3. Click the Firefox logins menu Three dot menu, then click OptionsPreferences.

    Firefox logins menuFx122 WIN 3 Dot Menu Options
    • The Firefox Settings Privacy & Security panel will open to the Logins and Passwords section.
  4. Remove the checkmark next to Use a master password.
  5. Enter the current password to confirm your ownership of the account.
  6. Click Remove.
  7. Click OK in the dialog that appears to confirm its removal.
  8. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Settings (select Preferences on older macOS versions).Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Click the Privacy & Security panel.
  3. Uncheck mark Use a master password. The Remove Master Password dialog will open.
  4. Enter the current password to confirm you are authorized to remove it.
  5. Click Remove.
  6. Click OK in the dialog that appears to confirm its removal.
  7. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

Changing the master password

You can also change your master password at any time:

  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton to open the menu panel.
  2. Click Logins and PasswordsPasswords.

  3. Click the Firefox logins menu Three dot menu, then click OptionsPreferences.

    Firefox logins menuFx122 WIN 3 Dot Menu Options
    • The Firefox Settings Privacy & Security panel will open to the Logins and Passwords section.
  4. Click Change Master Password.
  5. Enter the current password to confirm your ownership of the account.
  6. Enter the new master password twice.
    • Leaving the two fields empty removes your master password.
  7. To accept the changed master password, click OK.
  8. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Settings (select Preferences on older macOS versions).Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Click the Privacy & Security panel.
  3. Click Change Master Password.
  4. Enter the current password to confirm you are authorized to change it.
  5. Enter the new master password twice.
    • Leaving the two fields empty removes your master password.
  6. To accept the changed master password, click OK.
  7. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.



Based on information from Master password (mozillaZine KB)