Although letting Firefox save your passwords can be convenient, it also puts you at risk since others could potentially use those saved passwords to gain access to your accounts. Fortunately, you can minimize this risk by adding an extra layer of protection using a primary password. Learn how to safeguard your Firefox passwords with a primary password below.
What is a Primary Password in Firefox?
Firefox can store the usernames and passwords you use to sign in to websites when using the browser. This saves you from remembering all the passwords for the numerous websites you use but comes with an obvious downside: if someone else is using your computer, they can also sign in to all of your accounts using those saved passwords. That’s where the primary password comes in. This is an additional password that you can use to protect all of your saved passwords. When you want to sign in to an account using one of your saved passwords, Firefox will ask you to enter the Primary Password to verify that it’s you. It adds a layer of protection to your accounts. Since Firefox doesn’t save your primary password as it does with other passwords, it means that even if someone has your computer, they may still be unable to sign in to your accounts. If this feature sounds familiar, it’s because it’s been around for a long time in Firefox. It used to be called the master password. Don’t let the name change confuse you—it’s still the same feature.
How to Create a Primary Password in Firefox
To protect your saved passwords using a primary password, you must first set one up. You must create a password that you’re going to remember—your primary password isn’t saved in Firefox. If you forget it, you won’t be able to access any of your saved passwords in Firefox. There’s no way to recover it, either. If you’re not confident you can remember it, you might want to consider using a password manager. To create a primary password in Firefox:
How to Change a Primary Password in Firefox
If you’ve already set up a primary password and want to change it, it’s quick and easy to do so. Be aware that you’ll only be able to change the primary password if you already know the current one. There’s no way to reset the primary password if you can’t remember what it is. To change a primary password in Firefox:
How to Delete a Primary Password in Firefox
If you get tired of entering the primary password every time you want to use one of your saved passwords in Firefox, you can remove it. This will delete it completely—if you want to use a primary password again later, you’ll need to start the process from the beginning to set one up. To delete a primary password in Firefox: Your primary password is now deleted. Remember that without this feature set up, anyone using your computer will be able to use your saved passwords in Firefox. If you decide to reinstate the Primary Password again, follow the steps in the first section of this article.
Managing Your Security in Firefox
Learning to protect Firefox passwords with a primary password ensures that your accounts have an additional layer of protection if anyone else is using or gets hold of your computer. You only need to enter it once per session, so it’s not too onerous. We strongly recommend using a primary password, particularly if you have saved passwords for sensitive accounts (such as your online banking) in Firefox. There are many other valuable tips and tricks that you can use in Firefox. For example, you can enable or disable hardware acceleration to improve performance. You can create and manage multiple Firefox profiles if you’re using it for various purposes. If you want to personalize Firefox, you can also learn how to access hidden advanced settings in Firefox. Comment Name * Email *
Δ Save my name and email and send me emails as new comments are made to this post.
