Firefox: managing stored passwords*
Most (all?) web browsers offer to “remember” the user name and password combination you use to log into certain websites (such as Hotmail, or your bank, etc.) which allows for faster access when you return to the site. Firefox is no exception.
If you should need to change the remembered login on your machine – say, if you “remembered” an incorrect combo, or if you changed the login using a different machine (it is highly recommended that you change your passwords several times a year..) – the following steps will allow you to delete the ‘bad’ ones.
Tip of the day: Manage your login passwords in Firefox.
1) Open Firefox, and click on “Tools” from the menu bar at the top.
2) From the Tools menu, click on “Options…”
3) A new window will open. Click on the “Security” tab.
4) Now click the “Saved Passwords” button.
5) Now a new window will show you all of the “remembered” logon combinations that Firefox is storing for you. Simply click on the troublesome/obsolete item and then click “Remove”.
This deletes the (old) entry. Now go to the website in question. You will be asked to log in. Then Firefox will offer to “Remember” this (new) password – click Yes.
That’s it. You’re done.
Related link: For those of you who may like to learn what constitutes a good password (and, what does not) please read, Strong passwords, hidden Admin
Today’s free download: Portable Glary Utilities. Folks, I have mentioned the wonderful, free, Glary Utilities program here before. It contains a safe Registry scanner, Privacy sweeper, anti-spyware sweeper, temp file emptier, and more. Now you can carry this tool around on your thumbdrive by downloading the “portable” version. I suggest using the first link; the “self-installer”.
Orig. post: 11/1/09
Copyright 2007-2010 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved. 
post to jaanix.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
| Share this post : |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
21 Comments »
Leave a reply to Ranjan Cancel reply
• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
-
Say "thank you!" Buy Tech Paul a cup of coffee (and keep T4E ad free).
-
-
McAfee® Cybersafety Resource Portal, an online help center designed to assist victims of computer crime and provide information on how to avoid becoming a victim.
-
Subscribe to Tech--for Everyone by EmailRecent Comments
-
-
-
-
Also:
-
-
Tech - for Everyone 
Hey, I checked this out, I only have the one pass word, kind of re-assuring that I did something right, ha.
Thanks
LikeLike
Thanks for the tip. I’d wondered about that!
LikeLike
Excellent info on the PW. I had not noticed. I was just wondering. Can I set this for only certain sites or is it all or nothing. I shop and bank from my PC sometimes.
LikeLike
ebony623,
Firefox (all web browsers, actually) will offer to “remember” each time you visit a site which asks for a login for the first time — so, yes, it is “case by case basis”. You can choose to answer “no” (or, “not now”) and the username+password will not be stored.
Note: as the article points out, deleting the username+password makes the browser “forget”, and when you return to the site, the browser thinks you’re there for the first time, and will ask – again – if you want it to “remember” for you.
LikeLike
Paul,
“You can choose to answer “no” (or, “not now”) and the username+password will not be stored.” or simply click ‘Never for this site (or similar option in other browsers)’ if you don’t want firefox to opt for password saving options everytime you log in to that site..
Btw, i never let the browser store any of my passwords!
LikeLike
Ranjan,
It is a good “security” policy to not have your browser (or computer) store (aka “remember”) login credentials but, that defeats the convenience of the feature…
LikeLike
I agree, Paul. But this convenience comes with a hidden cost, i.e., your identity is at a constant risk of being stolen.
LikeLike
Ranjan,
Well… yes. You see, I was trying to use a trick of language to get people to think about how “convenience” often translates to “insecure”.
LikeLike
Lol… Nice ‘trick’, Paul…
LikeLike
I used to use the built in feature of FF password memory.
I switched to LastPass for all of my passwords and am glad I did. It seems browsers are always at risk of being targeted for loopholes and end runs. LastPass securely encrypts your passwords and is cross platform.
I strongly recommend people give up the FF password keeper and move to a more secure password memory system such as LastPass.
Keep up the great work Paul. I always look forward to reading your blog on a daily basis!!
LikeLike
g,
It is good to see you here again.
I have to say that I was kind of counting on you to make this point for me.
Folks, find out what g is referring to. See, http://lastpass.com/
LikeLike
Thanks Paul. I was aware of this feature.
Not sure if it is the right place, but i’m planning to uninstall FF & then do a fresh install. How should I save my existing passwords and put it back in the new install?
Appreciate ur help.
Thanks,
Grr
LikeLike
Grr,
Hmmm.. it has been a while, but I don’t think you can “export” the Saved passwords, and then “import” them again into the new install (like you do with bookmarks).. I would have to check the Firefox user forums/Mozilla website to find out for sure. (Hint)
What you can do easily enough is take a screenshot of the window, paste it into Paint or WordPad, and use it as a visual reference.
LikeLike
Thanks for reply Paul.
I wish there was an easy way out..
Thanks,
Grr
LikeLike
Grr,
There may be.. I am just not aware of it off the top of my head. Why don’t you try posting the question on the Mozilla forums? (Better yet, search for the question/answer already posted.. I am sure it has come up before..)
I hope you’ll let us know what you find.
LikeLike
Thanks Paul, would do that.
Thanks,
Grr
LikeLike
Grr,
It finally popped into my mind.. MozBackup is a small utility that can make a transferable copy of your History, passwords, etc..
http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/
LikeLike
Thanks Paul for the help. I would try it out soon, as I have to reformat my system.
Thanks, Grr
LikeLike
Hello,
I agree with your post. I want to suggest some words. Firefox saves your personal information such as bookmarks, passwords, and user preferences in a set of files called your profile, which is stored in a separate location from the Firefox program files.
Thanks
LikeLike
A+ would read again
LikeLike
good post..great share, great article..love to read it
LikeLike