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Like other major browsers, Firefox offers a convenient built-in way to store your passwords. It’s beloved by users for being a non-Chromium alternative to the market leader Chrome. However, if you find that Firefox is not the browser for you or want to look into different credential storage methods, you might want to know how to disable the Firefox password manager first.
Today, we’ll cover the process, from exporting your passwords for safekeeping to switching off the password manager on desktop and mobile devices. Then, we’ll see what secure alternatives you can use to store and access your credentials.
Some steps before you turn off the Firefox password manager
Firefox allows users to save login details whenever they log in to a new site. Even if you don’t use the browser’s built-in password manager regularly, this means you may have some of your credentials saved, whether by choice or by accident.
Before disabling the Firefox password manager, you should first see if you have any credentials saved and, if so, which ones. This will let you know if your stored credentials are up-to-date and whether they need to be deleted altogether. If you use a Firefox account, all changes will apply to the devices you’re logged in on via synchronization.
Keep in mind that disabling the built-in password manager won’t automatically clear your storage—if you ever turn it back on, your old data will be easily accessible. That’s not ideal if you don’t plan to use Firefox for your password storage in the future. To be sure that this information is gone for good, you have to delete all stored credentials manually. For more in-depth information on viewing, editing, and deleting your passwords on Firefox, check out our dedicated guide.
That said, if you find valuable information stored in your Firefox password manager, you might want to preserve it before deleting it from the browser. We recommend exporting your saved credentials from Firefox and storing them in a secure location until you can import them to a different password manager.
To export passwords from Firefox, follow these steps:
Click the three lines in the top right corner of the browser and select “Passwords.”
Tap the three dots on the upper right side of the “Passwords” page to open the menu. Then, click “Export passwords.”
You will be warned that your exported credentials will be saved as a non-encrypted, readable file. Select “Continue with Export.”
Choose your preferred location to store the file and click “Export.”
Keep your exported file safe. If you plan to import the credentials to a different password manager, delete the file immediately afterward.
Turning off the Firefox password manager on your device
You can easily control the Firefox password manager settings on both desktop and mobile devices.
On desktop
To disable the Firefox password manager on a Windows or macOS device:
Click the three lines in the top right corner of the browser and select “Passwords.”
Tap the three dots on the upper right side of the “Passwords” page to open the menu. Here, select “Preferences.”
Toggle off the “Ask to Save Passwords” checkbox.
On mobile
To turn off the Firefox password manager on an Android or iOS device:
Tap the three dots (on Android) or three lines (on iOS) and go to “Settings.”
Select “Passwords.”
Under “Save Passwords,” toggle on “Never Save.”
Changing your password manager from Firefox to a third-party provider
With the Firefox password manager switched off and your exported credentials resting on your device, it’s time to consider where your next password storage will be. It’s not a good idea to keep this data out in the open. If anyone got their hands on your device or if you accidentally shared the file with others, your accounts could be compromised.
So, you should find a solution that offers more protection against password leakage—and yes, setting up a spreadsheet file is also out of the question. Another not-to-do item on this list is changing all your passwords to the same one. It might seem like the simplest solution, especially considering that the average person handles nearly 170 passwords. However, if one account gets compromised, the rest might go down with it. Instead, we need to consider a reliable alternative that lets you add variety to your passwords while keeping them secure.
If you’re simply switching browsers, you may be tempted to use its built-in password manager, if it offers one. However, browser-based password managers pale in comparison to third-party providers like NordPass. While Firefox uses AES-256 encryption to protect sensitive data, NordPass has opted for the more advanced XChaCha20—a faster and more secure alternative. NordPass is also convenient to use as a browser extension—you can even get it for Firefox.
When you switch to NordPass, you’ll get the fundamental features you’ve been familiar with on Firefox, like autofill for your credentials and cross-device synchronization, ensuring all your passwords are up-to-date. But that’s just the start—NordPass offers protection for your email address by letting you set up an email mask. You can also scan your vault to see if any of your credentials are old, weak, or reused.
Manage your accounts with ease without leaving your browser with NordPass.
FAQ
Why should you disable the Firefox password manager?
A browser does not offer sufficient security for sensitive data. For example, if someone were to gain unauthorized access to your browser, they could export and access your passwords and breach your accounts.
What happens after disabling the Firefox password manager?
Once you’ve disabled the Firefox password manager, it will stop prompting you to save or autofill your login credentials. However, your previously saved passwords will still be available if you switch the browser password manager back on.