How to Remove Saved Passwords in Mozilla Firefox

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Managing passwords is important to ensure the security and privacy of your online accounts. Mozilla Firefox offers the feature of saving your passwords, making it easier to log in to different websites without having to remember complex characters for each account. However, there may be times when you want to delete saved passwords for reasons such as switching to another password manager, updating login details, or to increase security by not saving any sensitive information on your browser. In this detailed lesson, we will guide you step by step in deleting saved passwords in Mozilla Firefox.

Understanding saved passwords

Before we learn how to delete saved passwords, it's important to understand what they are. When you enter a username and password to sign in to a website, Firefox usually offers to save this information. Accepting this offer means that whenever you revisit the site, Firefox can pre-fill the login fields using the saved credentials. The convenience of not having to remember every password is countered by the potential risk of unauthorized access if someone gains control of your device. Therefore, knowing how to manage these saved credentials is an important aspect of maintaining your digital security.

Why delete saved passwords?

There are several reasons why you might want to delete saved passwords from Firefox:

• Security concerns: Saved passwords could pose a risk if your device is used by multiple users or gets stolen.
• Changes in account details: Old credentials may be saved even after you update your password.
• Migrating to another password manager: Removing passwords lets you manage them through a centralized and often more secure service.

Steps to delete saved passwords in Firefox

Step 1: Open Mozilla Firefox

Start by opening the Mozilla Firefox browser on your computer. Make sure it's running the latest version to take advantage of the latest security and user interface improvements.

Step 2: Access the Firefox menu

In the upper-right corner of your browser window, you'll see a menu button represented by three horizontal lines (also known as the "hamburger menu"). Click this button to open the Firefox menu, which provides access to various tools and settings.

Step 3: Go to Passwords

In the menu, click "Logins and Passwords". This action will redirect you to the "Firefox Lockwise" page, where all your saved logins and passwords will be displayed. Firefox Lockwise is an integrated password manager built into Firefox for managing login information.

Step 4: View saved passwords

You will now see a list of all the websites for which Firefox has saved login credentials. By clicking on a site's name, you can see the username and password associated with it. The numbers and letters in the password field are usually hidden as a security measure; however, you can make them visible by clicking on the eye icon.

Step 5: Select the password to delete

View the list of your saved passwords and decide which ones you want to delete. If you want to delete a specific password, first click on the website or entry to select it. This will display the details of the entry, including the option to delete the saved login information.

Step 6: Delete specific saved passwords

Once you've selected an entry, find and click the "Delete" button to remove it from your saved passwords. This action will not give you any warning once you click, nor will you be able to undo it. So, make sure you really want to delete that specific entry before you proceed.

Step 7: Deleting all saved passwords

If you want to delete all saved passwords at once, Firefox provides a simple method to do so. Follow these steps:

• In the "Logins and Passwords" manager, click the three-dot menu (also known as the overflow menu) in the upper right corner.
• Select "Delete all logins" from the dropdown menu.
• A confirmation dialog may appear, asking you to confirm the deletion of all saved passwords.
• Click "Yes" or "Delete" to proceed with the deletion.

Remember, this action cannot be undone, so make sure you've backed up the necessary information or have another way to access your accounts before proceeding.

Advanced options

Managing passwords with Firefox Sync

If you use Firefox Sync to synchronize your credentials across multiple devices, deleting a password from one device may not immediately take effect on the other devices until sync is complete. Make sure Firefox Sync is enabled on each device to maintain consistency in your saved password preferences.

Using the Firefox about:config page

For advanced users, the configuration page "about:config" provides deeper access to the inner workings of Firefox. Here, users can manipulate many advanced settings, although this method is generally advised for those who are comfortable with more technical operations, as incorrect changes can affect the browser's behavior.

Security considerations

Ensuring security after removing the password

Removing passwords is one step toward securing your personal information. Consider enabling a master password in Firefox to add an extra layer of security for the remaining sensitive data.

Use safer alternatives

If you decide not to use Firefox's password manager features, look for alternative services that offer advanced security, such as dedicated password manager applications that use encryption to protect your data.

Conclusion

Deleting saved passwords in Firefox is an essential skill to effectively manage and protect your online accounts. By following the detailed steps above, you can confidently manage, change, or delete saved passwords depending on your needs. With awareness and vigilance, you can use Firefox's browser features to maintain a secure Internet presence while minimizing risks to your personal data.

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