Windows 10 reached EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. If you are on Windows 10, see this article.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Primary login issues with retrieving passwords

  • 1 reply
  • 0 have this problem
  • Last reply by TechHorse
  • Open

Hi folks, my primary password suddenly stopped working when trying to look at saved passwords today. I've changed it to a new one, needing to type in the old password to do so. That worked, which verifies I had the correct password to begin with.

I then updated the browser to the latest version. When I type in the new password on startup of Firefox it works fine to reopen all the old tabs.

However when I go to look at any of the saved website passwords, the problem reoccurs again. I type in the new password but the box shakes, refusing it.

How can it be that the primary password lets me in fine when starting up Firefox, yet I get the shaking login box when I try to look at any saved website passwords? Surely if the primary password works for one it should work for the other?

Thank you, Shane

Hi folks, my primary password suddenly stopped working when trying to look at saved passwords today. I've changed it to a new one, needing to type in the old password to do so. That worked, which verifies I had the correct password to begin with. I then updated the browser to the latest version. When I type in the new password on startup of Firefox it works fine to reopen all the old tabs. However when I go to look at any of the saved website passwords, the problem reoccurs again. I type in the new password but the box shakes, refusing it. How can it be that the primary password lets me in fine when starting up Firefox, yet I get the shaking login box when I try to look at any saved website passwords? Surely if the primary password works for one it should work for the other? Thank you, Shane

Modified by Stokesymadrid

All Replies (1)

Stokesymadrid, whn you attempt to view saved logins and get a prompt, are you sure that it is the Primary Password that is being asked for?

Recently Firefox has started asking some users for device authentication when they try to view logins, and I'm wondering if that is what is happening here? That would explain why the Primary Password is not working, as this is not what is being requested at this stage.

For more information, including how to turn any such device sign-in prompts off, see this article: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-password-authentification-prompt

Modified by TechHorse

Ask a question

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.