Why you might want to deactivate Edge password manager

The Edge password manager is a convenient addition to the browser as it offers basic functionality by saving your passwords directly in the browser. However, there are several reasons you might consider moving away from the built-in tool.

• Security risks: Sometimes, storing passwords in a browser can make them vulnerable to hacking attempts, especially if your device is lost or compromised. Cybercrooks often target browsers because quite a few people use them to store sensitive data such as passwords, payment cards, and personal details.

• Limited features: While Edge’s password manager is convenient, it still lacks advanced features like password health analysis, secure password sharing, email masking, sub domain matching for autofill, and so much more.

• Cross-platform incompatibility: If you use multiple browsers or devices on a daily basis for work or just to run personal errands, syncing passwords across those devices is critical; this way you’ll have your credentials with you at all times. Unfortunately, Edge’s password manager doesn’t offer seamless cross-platform support.

• Preference for dedicated solutions: Dedicated password managers like NordPass provide enhanced security features, user-friendly interfaces, and better overall management of your digital credentials.

By deactivating Edge’s built-in password manager, you can opt for a solution that offers better security, more advanced features, and more flexibility.

Before you disable your Edge password manager

Disabling the password manager in your Edge browser is more than just flipping a switch. One critical step before disabling the built-in password manager is exporting and saving all your stored passwords. This backup is critical because once the password manager is disabled, your saved passwords may no longer be accessible.

Here’s how you can export your passwords from Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner.

2. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

3. Click Profiles, then choose Passwords.

4. At the top of the Saved passwords section, you’ll see an option with three dots. Click it and select Export passwords.

5. Confirm the action, and choose a secure location on your device to save the exported file.

By exporting your passwords, you ensure that all your login information is safely stored and can be easily imported into a dedicated password manager like NordPass. This not only prevents the hassle of resetting passwords but also provides an opportunity to enhance your online security.

How to turn off Edge password manager

Disabling the password manager in Edge is quite simple and should not take too much of your time. Follow these detailed steps:

1. Launch Microsoft Edge.

2. Click the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

3. From the dropdown, select Settings.

4. In the left sidebar of the Settings page, click Profiles.

5. Under the Profiles section, select Passwords.

6. Find the option labeled Offer to save passwords.

7. Toggle the switch to the Off position.

8. Below that, toggle off Sign in automatically.

9. If you want to delete the passwords already saved in Edge, scroll down to the Saved passwords section. Here, you can remove individual passwords by clicking the three dots next to each entry and selecting Delete.

10. Close and reopen the browser to ensure that the changes take effect.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully turned off the password manager in Microsoft Edge.

What happens after disabling Edge password manager

Once you have turned the password manager off in Edge, the browser will no longer prompt you to save passwords when you sign into the website, nor will it automatically fill out your login credentials. In turn, this means that you will need to manually enter your usernames and passwords each time you access your accounts. This change presents a chance to improve your overall online security by switching to a password manager like NordPass. With NordPass, you can securely store your passwords, enjoy automatic form filling, and benefit from advanced security features that offer stronger protection than the built-in password managers.

Advantages of using NordPass over a built-in password manager

Switching to a dedicated password manager like NordPass is not an upgrade but a full change in how you secure and manage your life online. While the built-in password manager offers basic and convenient functionality, NordPass takes that to the next level with advanced features, advanced security, and unmatched convenience.

Advanced security measures

NordPass uses state-of-the-art encryption protocols, more precisely XChaCha20 encryption combined with zero-knowledge architecture. This essentially means that your data is encrypted on your device before reaching the servers of NordPass, and you alone retain keys for decrypting it. On top of that, NordPass supports multi-factor authentication (MFA), adding that extra layer of security by requiring further verification methods when trying to access your vault.

Seamless cross-platform functionality

With NordPass, your passwords, passkeys, payment card data, secure notes, and personal information are synchronized across all your devices, whether you’re using Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. This cross-platform accessibility eliminates the limitations associated with browser-specific password managers. At the end of the day, with a dedicated password manager, you will have access to your credentials whenever and wherever you need them.

Better user experience and features

NordPass is designed in such a way that its intuitiveness and user-friendly interface make password management pretty easy, even if you’re not a tech-head. The Password Health feature goes through the passwords stored in your NordPass vault and identifies weak, reused, or old passwords, suggesting updates toward stronger alternatives. The built-in Data Breach Scanner monitors your credentials for exposure. If your information has been compromised, NordPass alerts you immediately so you can take immediate action to secure your accounts.

By transitioning to NordPass, you’re not merely replacing Edge’s basic password storage—you’re adopting a comprehensive security solution that actively safeguards your digital identity. NordPass’ advanced encryption, cross-platform accessibility, and user-friendly features elevate your online security to a higher standard.

Security guidelines state that all accounts, regardless of their importance, should use unique and complicated passwords. Unfortunately, the burden of juggling different accounts with long passwords that are difficult to keep track of or enter without typos leads to people settling for simpler, repetitive, and far less resilient passwords.

This struggle can be easily solved once you know how password managers work to support your credential handling. Whether it’s a built-in browser password manager or a dedicated third-party tool, they let you conveniently keep track of your credentials without losing out on that security factor. Let’s look into how password managers actually work, what features they may offer, and what makes them a safe choice to store all sensitive details in one place.

What is a password manager?

Password managers are pretty self-explanatory—they’re tools that let you store and manage your login credentials. They do the heavy lifting for you by storing your essential login information, such as your usernames, passwords, and email addresses.

Even if the term doesn’t ring a bell, chances are you’ve already used one before. Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera have built-in password managers that let you save your login details, saving you time whenever you need to log in. Third-party password managers are generally regarded as a more secure alternative to their browser counterparts.

What does a password manager do?

The primary purpose of a password manager is to provide secure storage for sensitive information. This is achieved through encryption—the process of scrambling data so that it can only be accessed if you have the right key to decipher it. A password manager like NordPass encrypts information on your device and, once it’s scrambled, sends it to the servers for safekeeping. This helps ensure that even in the case of a breach, the data is not accessible to unauthorized parties in plaintext.

As for the data itself—despite the name, password managers are not limited to passwords alone. They also provide storage for email addresses, personal addresses, ID information, banking details, and any other sensitive data that you want to keep safe. Password managers can even provide storage for passwordless solutions—NordPass lets its users store and manage passkeys.

Secure storage is just the tip of the iceberg. By now, password generators are a basic requirement for both browser-based and standalone password managers. Password generators help easily create unique and complex passwords that meet the standards of various security protocols. Instead of coming up with a password yourself, you can have the password manager generate a random, one-of-a-kind string of characters for you.

Password managers can take the chore out of finding the right password for the right account. Although you can use the vault search function or sort your credentials alphabetically when you need them, password managers eliminate this manual step altogether with autofill. This function instantly finds the login credentials you need and inputs them for you, instantly letting you access your account. Additionally, autosave detects whenever you’re entering credentials that aren’t in your vault and lets you store them without needing to type them out yourself.

Family password management

We usually focus on the benefits password managers offer to individuals. But did you know that you can share this tool with your friends and family and keep your entire closest circle protected online?

A password manager facilitates secure and convenient credential sharing. Imagine a family of five using a single Amazon account but scattered across different households. Using a password manager like NordPass, they can securely juggle access to the shared account. No need to send an unencrypted text message, a screenshot, or spell it out over the phone—you can simply select the password you want to share, who you want to share it with, and what access permissions you want to grant.

Managing passwords within a family is also convenient for broader security. Setting up a NordPass Family account grants access to Premium features like the Data Breach Scanner, which tracks the dark web for any signs of leaked personal information, and Password Health, which lets you know if any of your passwords are old, weak, or reused.

Multiply that by six, and you have your family’s cybersecurity sorted. And don’t forget, a family password manager doesn’t mean it has to be your relatives only—you can bring your spouse or friends along for the ride.

Business password management

Have you ever given in to the temptation to reuse one of your personal passwords for a work-related account to save time? It wouldn’t be surprising—between juggling accounts for personal and professional use, an average person has to handle 168 and 87 passwords, respectively.

A business password manager is here to keep things simple and separate personal and work credentials. It helps organizations optimize their workflows and implement centralized password usage policies that uphold high security standards.

Many features related to corporate credential security are handled from the admin side of password managers. For example, using NordPass, security managers can establish password strength requirements, such as password length, use of special characters, and frequency of updates.

Companies can set up extra layers of security, like multi-factor authentication, across the company. Additionally, NordPass offers a built-in Authenticator, allowing employees to easily generate two-factor codes for their work accounts and access login credentials all in one place.

As for employees themselves, they can handle their work-related accounts, such as corporate emails, social media communications, or banking. They can also securely share credentials with their colleagues or clients for collaboration.

NordPass allows Business users to control their shared access permissions to maintain data security. No need to fear losing track of what’s been shared—the Activity Log gives a clear overview of who created, edited, or granted access to credentials.

How to use a password manager

The hardest step in getting started with a password manager is finding the right one for you. The core will be similar everywhere—all you need to do is create an account, set up a master password, and add credentials to your encrypted vault. And if you’re looking for additional security for your cyber life, look no further than NordPass.

Whether you’re looking to cover your own personal needs, handle sensitive work-related data, or share passwords more securely with your friends and family, NordPass offers something for everyone. It’s built on zero-knowledge architecture and uses XChaCha20 encryption to provide a high level of security for both your personal and professional sensitive data. Start your hassle-free digital life with NordPass—a password manager that puts convenience first without compromising your security.