Use a Primary Password to protect stored logins and passwords

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  • Reviewed 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.

Important: After you have defined and set your master password, you will be prompted to enter it once for each Firefox session, when Firefox needs access to your stored passwords. This also applies if you want to add, remove or show a password.

Master Password - Win1

Create 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 your defined 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: @ # $ % ^ & * ( ).
    • You should also make sure to define your password in a way which is easy for you to remember, but difficult to guess for others. By doing so, you 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 your defined 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: @ # $ % ^ & * ( ).
    • You should also make sure to define your password in a way which is easy for you to remember, but difficult to guess for others. By doing so, you 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.

Remove the master password

Should you decide you don't need your master password anymore, you can delete 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.

Change 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)