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Master password? I've never used one, but...

  • 13 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 28 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

I've just upgraded to Firefox 57 and all of a sudden I'm being asked for a master password all the time. So I look in preferences and the box is checked, seemingly by default. Strange, as it never was before. So I try to uncheck it – but I can't because it keeps asking me for a master password I don't actually have... Catch 22.

Stuff still works even if I click on "Cancel" at the prompt, but now my computer-remembered log-ins don't appear and I'm having trouble remembering them myself.

How do I either get out of this situation or revert to the previous version of Firefox?

I've just upgraded to Firefox 57 and all of a sudden I'm being asked for a master password all the time. So I look in preferences and the box is checked, seemingly by default. Strange, as it never was before. So I try to uncheck it – but I can't because it keeps asking me for a master password I don't actually have... Catch 22. Stuff still works even if I click on "Cancel" at the prompt, but now my computer-remembered log-ins don't appear and I'm having trouble remembering them myself. How do I either get out of this situation or revert to the previous version of Firefox?

Chosen solution

I've solved my immediate problem. What I did was this: I remembered that I had Firefox 56 installed on my older Macbook. So I opened it on that and made sure that master password was not enabled (it never had been). Then I quit it. Following that I navigated to the profile on that computer and copied it to a USB drive.

After that it was easy to delete the profile on my main computer (a Macbook Pro) and replace it with the one from my USB drive. On opening Firefox again, hey presto, Master Password is unchecked as it should have been all the time.

I was fortunate that I had another computer from which to copy the folder and thus accomplish this workaround. Other people with the same problem might not be so lucky. The conclusion I draw is that seemingly the requirement for a master password is checked by default in the new version's preferences, leading to the problem I experienced, and if that is the case it needs to be corrected as a bug fix or something.

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All Replies (13)

uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files(x86) Do the Mac equivalent. Do not delete Profile. Then restart system. Note: your Firefox Profile is saved. But you should make a back up before you do : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer

Reinstall with Current Release Firefox 57.0.2 with a Full Version Installer https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

After reinstall if still have issue, it is in your Profile : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles Create a New Profile.

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

I've done everything as instructed and installed 57.0.2 but the problem persists. I'm reluctant to delete my profile and create a new one because of all the information in it, including passwords, AdBlocker Plus and the rest of it. What can I do?

Duplicate post – please ignore.

Modified by Tony474

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data Copy the Profile Folder out.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles Make a new Profile and Test.

Master Pass has their own Support. Firefox tries to Help if it interferes with Firefox Running. This is not the case. The ultimate responsibility lays with the Developers to provide Support. Try their Forum : http://help.masterpasswordapp.com/

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

Are you using Sync?

No. I'm not even sure what Sync is.

Edited to add: I've found out what it is and what it does, but I have no other devices with which to sync.

Modified by Tony474

Chosen Solution

I've solved my immediate problem. What I did was this: I remembered that I had Firefox 56 installed on my older Macbook. So I opened it on that and made sure that master password was not enabled (it never had been). Then I quit it. Following that I navigated to the profile on that computer and copied it to a USB drive.

After that it was easy to delete the profile on my main computer (a Macbook Pro) and replace it with the one from my USB drive. On opening Firefox again, hey presto, Master Password is unchecked as it should have been all the time.

I was fortunate that I had another computer from which to copy the folder and thus accomplish this workaround. Other people with the same problem might not be so lucky. The conclusion I draw is that seemingly the requirement for a master password is checked by default in the new version's preferences, leading to the problem I experienced, and if that is the case it needs to be corrected as a bug fix or something.

Note that you can remove the logins.json and key3.db files in the profile folder to recover from such master password issues.

If that still gives issues then remove secmode.db as well.

Modified by cor-el

Thank you for that. As I said, my problem is now resolved, but that is useful to know if another occasion arises.

Good for you. Glad to hear that your problem has been resolved. If you haven't already, *Please select the answer that solves the problem* YOURS. This will help other users with similar problems find the solution more easily.

Thank you for contacting Mozilla Support.

In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.

Thanks, Fred – that is good advice.

You're welcome. I tell this to everyone having password issues.