How to Use Mozilla Firefox’s Built-In Password Manager

According to statistics from StatCounter Global, Google Chrome continues to absolutely dominate the Internet Browser sphere. But many still use Mozilla Firefox, I mean the same stats put it at a rather miniscure 4.45% but considering these are global stats, that isn’t so bad.

Firefox for Mac, Windows, and Linux comes with a built-in Password Manager. This securely stores the usernames and passwords you use to access websites and then automatically fills them in for you the next time you visit a website. Unlike Password Managers, Firefox doesn’t sync to the cloud or anything so it remains within your local browser. So here is a scenario, you are using a friend’s computer and accidentally accept Firefox to store your credentials. How do you undo that?

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How to Use Mozilla’s Password Manager

This article will show you how to use the Password Manager to remember, view, edit, delete and protect your passwords, and also how to disable the Password Manager.

Fx57 save login

Managing multiple accounts for a site

If you have more than one account for a site, Firefox can save all your logins. You can make Firefox fill in the login information for a different account each time you visit.

If more than one login is stored for a website, the list of usernames will appear when you click into the login field. Just select the username you want to log in with.

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To view passwords for a specific site, click the username field for that site, then click View Saved Logins (see above).

Managing usernames and passwords

You can easily manage the usernames and passwords that Firefox has saved for you.

  1. Click on the menu button to open the menu panel.
  2. Click Logins and Passwords. A window will open with a list of your saved logins.
  3. Search or scroll to find the login you want to change.
    • Usernames: Double-click the username to change it.
    • Passwords: Click Show Passwords. Double-click the password to change it.
    • Remove: Highlight the logins you want to remove and click the Remove button.
    • Remove All: Click this button to remove all of your saved logins.

Protecting your passwords

If you use the same simple password for everything you will be more susceptible to identity theft. Create secure passwords to keep your identity safe article shows you an easy method for creating secure passwords and using the Password Manager, as described above, will help you remember them all.

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Even though the Password Manager stores your usernames and passwords on your hard drive in an encrypted format, someone with access to your computer user profile can still see or use them. The Use a Master Password to protect stored logins and passwords article shows you how to prevent this and keep you protected in the event your computer is lost or stolen.

Disabling the Password Manager

Firefox offers to remember passwords by default. To change your settings:

  1. Click the menu button and choose Options.
  2. Select the Privacy & Security panel and go to the Logins and Passwords section.
    • To prevent Firefox from saving logins and passwords for a certain website, click the Exceptions… button to the right of Ask to save logins and passwords for websites and add the website URL.
    • To prevent Firefox from saving logins and passwords for all websites, remove the checkmark next to Ask to save logins and passwords for websites.
  3. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you’ve made will automatically be saved.

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