Why Edge isn't filling in passwords and how to fix it

When Microsoft Edge does not automatically fill in passwords It can be a real nuisance: you waste time, the chances of making typos increase, and it also feels like something's broken in your browser. The curious thing is that this behavior isn't always caused by an error; often it's related to changes made by Microsoft, security settings, or configurations of the password manager itself that have gone unnoticed.

In the latest updates, Microsoft has significantly changed how it manages autofill and passwords.This applies both in its Authenticator app and in Edge, as well as in the new Microsoft Wallet system. Add to that the extra security features, the option to suggest strong passwords, or even the ability to completely disable automatic saving, and it's It's normal that many people find that Edge no longer fills them up at all.Let's break all this down calmly.

End of password autofill in Microsoft Authenticator

One of the key changes that explains why many users are experiencing autofill failures is that Microsoft has decided to remove the storage feature and password autofill in the Authenticator app.

According to a statement released by the company itself, Starting in July, Authenticator will no longer use password storage and autofill.and the process of complete withdrawal It will end in August 2025. That means the feature is being phased out, and if you relied on it for Edge or your mobile devices to complete login details, you're going to notice some significant changes.

The underlying reason is that Microsoft wants Simplify the autocomplete system and centralize everything related to credentials on a single platformwhich in this case is Microsoft Edge (and, within it, its password manager and Microsoft Wallet). Instead of having multiple sites where passwords are stored, the idea is to centralize it in the browser.

This decision has practical consequences: People who still have passwords saved in Authenticator must act before August 1, 2025.Until that date, you can export your stored passwords; if you don't do this in time, there's a real risk of losing them. In practice, this means you have to migrate that data to Edge, another password manager, or export it to avoid being left stranded.

It is worth remembering that Microsoft Authenticator is a free mobile app available for iOS and Android It focuses on providing secure login through multi-factor authentication (MFA). It uses TOTP codes (time-based one-time passwords), push notifications, and biometric authentication, among other methods. Traditional passwords are no longer the main focus, allowing the app to concentrate on what it does best: strengthening account security.

How autofill works and why Edge might stop filling in text

To understand why Edge sometimes fails to fill in the login fieldsIt's worth reviewing how form autofill works in browsers. Essentially, this feature detects typical online form fields (name, email, addresses, username, password, etc.) and fills them in using information stored in the browser.

When you start typing in a form field, The autocomplete system suggests filling in stored data.For example, it can display your name, email address, postal address, or login details for a specific website. With a simple tap of the Tab key or the right arrow, you can accept the suggestion and let the browser do the rest.

In the case of Microsoft, Edge integrates its own password manager and an additional module called Microsoft WalletThe browser is capable of saving credentials (username and password), payment information, basic contact details, and even affiliations. It then uses this data to automatically fill out forms when you visit a familiar website.

However, if Edge isn't filling anything in, it could be due to several reasons: The password autofill feature is disabled, Microsoft Wallet has certain settings turned off, or an extra layer of security has been activated. which requires you to authenticate before passwords appear in the fields.

In addition, some users prefer not to use Edge's built-in password manager and opt for third-party alternatives such as Bitdefender SecurePass u other specialized servicesIn such cases, the browser's native autofill is usually disabled to avoid conflicts or duplicates, which can also mean that Edge simply stops offering your saved passwords.

Microsoft Wallet: Password center and autofill in Edge

Within Edge, Microsoft Wallet acts as the central hub for everything related to passwords and payment data.It's not just a wallet for bank cards, but a space from which you control what is saved, what is autofilled, and what alerts appear when you enter new credentials.

If what you want is that Edge will stop constantly asking you if you want to save passwordsTo prevent automatic filling of wallets, the most direct way is to adjust Microsoft Wallet settings in your browser. The process is similar on Windows and macOS computers.

To begin with, we must Open Microsoft Edge and access the main menu of options using the three-dot button. (…) located in the upper right corner. From that menu, you can access the Settings section, where all the important settings related to the browser's behavior are located.

Within the settings, you'll see a specific section for Microsoft Wallet where you can manage payments, passwords, basic information, and membershipsIf you can't find it easily, there's a shortcut: type edge://wallet/ directly in the address bar takes you to the appropriate screen immediately.

Once there, in the left-hand menu, you can access the Wallet's settings section and disable all functions related to saving and autocompletionThis includes options such as saving and filling in payment information, offering to save passwords, viewing and autofilling passwords and access keys, saving and filling in basic information, or storing memberships.

By turning off these switches, Edge will stop saving new passwords and will no longer automatically fill in existing ones.This way, you can use your favorite third-party password manager without interference, or choose to enter your information manually whenever you prefer. When you close the Wallet tab, the browser will automatically save your changes, so you don't need to save anything manually.

Additional privacy: device authentication before filling in passwords

In addition to the typical autocomplete functions, Microsoft has incorporated a extra layer of security to protect passwords stored in EdgeThe goal is to prevent anyone with physical access to your computer from logging into your accounts using autofill without any restrictions.

This functionality allows that Edge requires authentication with the device's own credentials before filling in a saved password.In other words, if you activate this protection, the browser will not automatically fill in the login fields until it verifies your identity using your Windows password, PIN, fingerprint, or another login method configured on your computer.

Passwords in Edge are stored in encrypted form on the hard drive, but without this measure, Anyone sitting in front of your unlocked PC could take advantage of autocomplete. to access your online services. With the new option, it becomes much more difficult for third parties, even while sitting at your computer, to break into your accounts without your permission.

To activate this feature, you can go directly to edge://settings/autofill/passwords from the address bar. There, within the "Passwords and Autofill" section, you'll find the Microsoft Password ManagerAmong its advanced options is the setting to allow the auto-completion of passwords and passkeys, as well as the checkbox that forces the use of device credentials before displaying or filling in a website password.

By enabling the setting "Request device login options before viewing or entering the password"Edge will ask you how often you want your identity to be verified. During subsequent browsing, each time you try to access a site with a saved password, you'll need to pass that verification before the fields are filled in.

In practice, this means that No one without your computer's password, even with the computer unlocked, will be able to use your saved passwords. through autofill. It also affects sensitive actions such as displaying the password in plain text in the settings or exporting the key list to a file, which will still require device authentication.

Limitations and scope of password protection in Edge

This security improvement is very useful, but it's important to be clear that It is not a magic solution that covers all possible risksMicrosoft presents it as an additional layer of protection, a deterrent to unauthorized access, but not as a substitute for basic good practices.

The need for authentication adds a barrier: If you leave the unlocked device near other people, it will be more difficult for them to take advantage of autocomplete. to access your accounts. Furthermore, it also offers some protection against malicious sites that attempt to steal credentials by exploiting form autofill.

However, Microsoft points out that This layer of security doesn't solve everything.If someone else uses your same Windows user account or system session, they will theoretically still have the necessary control to authenticate. Therefore, the official recommendation is that other users log in to the device with their own account, with their own separate profile, and, if applicable, their own saved passwords.

It should also be borne in mind that, although this function protects against certain abuses of autofill, It does not replace broader security measures such as keeping the system updatedUse anti-malware solutions, or periodically check the devices where you have logged in.

In summary, pre-authentication before autofill helps to slightly protect the privacy of your passwords, but It remains just one layer within a broader security strategy which should include strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and prudent browsing habits.

Suggestions for strong passwords in Microsoft Edge

Another reason why Edge's behavior with passwords changes for some users is the arrival of the function to suggest secure passwords in registration formsThis feature makes Edge's built-in manager more like a payment manager, although still with fewer advanced options.

The idea is simple: when you register on a new site, Edge can automatically suggest a complex and difficult-to-guess password.So you don't have to rack your brain thinking of safe combinations. Once you accept the suggestion, the browser fills it in the form and saves it in its manager for future use.

To use this feature, you need to access your browser settings again. From the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, you can access... Settings, and within it, in the "Profiles" sectionThere you will see your user account associated with Edge, which is important because passwords are synchronized between devices as long as you are logged in.

Within profiles, you will find the section for "Passwords" identified by a key iconIn that menu, there are several options, including enabling or disabling "Suggest strong passwords." If you enable this option, Edge will show you generated passwords when it detects that you are registering on a new website where you don't yet have saved credentials.

From that moment on, when you click on the password field in a registration form, The browser will offer you a strong password suggestion.You can usually request that it generate a different one if you are not satisfied with the first one, and when you accept the suggestion the field is filled in automatically (even if you have to repeat the password in a second field to confirm it).

When you complete the registration process with one of these passwords generated by Edge, The key is stored in the integrated password manager and synchronized with other devices where you use the same Microsoft account. However, it currently doesn't allow such fine-tuning as choosing the exact length or character type (for example, without symbols), something that many paid email managers do offer.

Reset Microsoft Edge when the browser is behaving strangely

There are times when, despite having everything configured correctly, Edge still fails to fill in passwords or exhibits strange behavior with formsIn such cases, we may be dealing with a problem with the browser installation itself, a conflicting extension, or an internal configuration error that is more difficult to locate.

A relatively simple solution is use the repair and reset tools that Windows offers for Microsoft EdgeThis way it is possible to try to restore the browser to a functional state without having to completely uninstall it or touch the operating system.

To access these options, simply go to the application of Windows settings and go to the installed applications sectionThere you can search for "Microsoft Edge" in the list. Clicking on the browser displays various advanced options related to its maintenance.

First, the option usually appears to "Repair" Edge, which attempts to fix internal problems while preserving user dataIn other words, it's a sort of soft fix that preserves settings, history, and cookies, so you don't lose your usual environment while the bugs are being corrected.

If after that minor repair the browser still doesn't autofill passwords correctly or continues to give errors, the more drastic option remains of "Reset" Edge, which returns it almost to its initial state after installing Windows 10In this case, personal settings, cookies, and local history are lost, but favorites are preserved because they are synchronized with your Microsoft account.

This full reset operation is useful when Problematic extensions, corrupt settings, or deep-seated errors prevent key features like autocomplete from working correctly.However, it's a good idea to first make sure you have synchronization of important data such as bookmarks enabled, to avoid any surprises.

Autocomplete in Edge, Chrome, and Firefox: different ways to manage forms

Beyond Edge, many users combine several browsers in their daily lives, and sometimes expect that The autofill and password functions work the same on allHowever, each one has its own philosophy and way of integrating key managers, which can lead to confusion.

In the Microsoft ecosystem, the spotlight now falls on Edge and its own password manager, along with Microsoft WalletAlthough in the past password autofill was offered through the Microsoft Authenticator extension for ChromeSome of the newest features, such as strong password suggestions, are only available within Edge.

This means that if you use Chrome and have the Authenticator extension installed, you will not have the same password generation experience that in EdgeGoogle's browser has its own integrated manager, but the new features that Microsoft is introducing into its ecosystem are mainly focused on Edge and are not automatically transferred to other browsers.

Firefox, for its part, also has its own system of autofill forms and manage passwordswith different security and privacy settings. Many guides compare how Autofill is activated and used in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, emphasizing that each handles data synchronization, strong password generation, and interaction with third-party managers differently.

In general, if you combine several browsers, the most sensible thing to do is decide Which will be your primary password manager and how do you want autofill to behave in each one?Disabling password saving in some browsers, leaving it enabled in others, or using an external cross-platform solution are all valid strategies that will help you avoid conflicts and better understand why one browser fills in data and another doesn't.

This whole framework of changes in Authenticator, the centralization at Edge, the new security layers, and the key suggestion options explains that More and more users are finding that Edge no longer fills in passwords as it used to.Understanding what has been changed, what has been disabled, and what has been protected allows you to customize your browser to your liking and regain the convenience of autocomplete whenever you want, without sacrificing security.

Related article:

Password autofill is disappearing from Microsoft Authenticator and is being integrated into Edge.

Alberto Navarro

I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.

If you have any questions, my knowledge ranges from everything related to the Windows operating system as well as Android for mobile phones. And my commitment is to you, I am always willing to spend a few minutes and help you resolve any questions you may have in this internet world.