How To Manage Passwords In Firefox

Updated on Jul 1, 2022. Throughout the early-2000s, Mozilla Firefox held its position as one of the most-used browsers of all time. At the time, its only competition was Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (generally regarded as one of the slowest browsers of all time). So, needless to say, Firefox was the king of browsers for quite some time.

However, in 2012, Google released its Chrome browser, which took over most of the market share and featured even faster loading times than Firefox as well as allowing users to easily access all of their Google apps. While Firefox isn’t as popular of a browser as it was 15 years ago, it’s still used by die-hard fans and has a lot to offer in terms of security and open-source usability.

One of the nicer features of Firefox’s browser is its Lockwise password management tool. Similar to password managers offered by other browsers, Lockwise allows users to store and keep track of all of their online passwords and login credentials.

So today, for the remaining Firefox users out there, we decided that we’d put together a quick guide on how to manage your passwords in Firefox. We’ll be taking a brief break from our VPN reviews and hacking-related content to answer some commonly asked questions about Lockwise and explain how to ensure your saved Firefox passwords are 100% safe and secure.

Is It Safe To Store Passwords In Firefox?

When it comes to browser-based password managers, there tends to be a fair amount of security concerns (and rightly so). For many internet users, it’s hard to imagine that storing passwords within a browser is a particularly smart idea… After all, aren’t browsers the first place that hackers target?

There have simply been too many reports of hackers taking advantage of browsers that aren’t secured by a VPN like ExpressVPN and gaining access to accounts. However, this usually isn’t due to a fault on the password manager’s end. Instead, it’s due to poor internet security, weak passwords, and a lack of quality anti-malware software or a good VPN.

That being said, Firefox’s password manager is actually quite secure. While it may not be encrypted with the same military-grade encryption protocols offered by paid password managers, it does protect your passwords with two-step authentication, requiring a phone code or email code to be entered in order to view passwords.

Firefox vs. Google Password Manager

Firefox’s top competitor on the browser market is Google Chrome, which also has a pretty darn good password manager. So, how do the two compare?

Overall, we’d have to say that they’re exactly the same. Everything from the user interface to the security features are pretty much carbon copies of each other. Of course, there are some stylistic differences; but nothing major.

Both password managers offer two-step verification, can easily store passwords, and allow users to modify password entries and password management settings.

The one feature that Google password manager has that isn’t offered by Firefox’s password manager is the ability to check for data breaches. Google will check for dark web data breaches that may involve your saved usernames and passwords so you don’t have to worry about hackers accessing your accounts.

How To Manage Passwords In Firefox

So, now for the part that you actually came here for- how to manage your passwords in Firefox. If you’ve used Chrome or Safari’s password manager before, then you’ll find that Firefox’s password manager is just as easy to use! If you’re new to the platform, then keep on reading for a quick overview of Firefox’s password manager.

1. Create a Firefox Account and Turn On Sync: First, before you can start saving passwords, you’ll need to create a Firefox account. This can easily be done from your browser and will allow you to sync your Firefox settings across multiple devices.

After creating your account, go under your settings and turn on ‘Sync’ to allow your passwords to be accessed from multiple devices linked to your Firefox account.

2. Accept Firefox Prompts To Save Passwords: As you begin to log into various sites and applications from your Firefox browser, Firefox will ask you whether or not you want to save the password. If the prompt doesn’t automatically open, then you can click the small ‘key’ icon next to the URL bar in your browser to re-open the password dialogue box.

3. Access Firefox Lockwise Password Manager: If you want to see all of your saved passwords, then you can open your Mozilla Lockwise password manager to view and edit password listings.

To do this, click the menu in your Firefox browser and select ‘Passwords.’ This will open Lockwise, where you’ll be able to modify any listing you want. Here’s how it should look:

Can I Share Stored Passwords In Firefox?

If you’ve had experience using Safari’s password manager, then you’ll remember that you can share login credentials with other Apple users by using the secure AirDrop file transfer system. This is a great way to share passwords between your family, friends, or your coworkers.

Unfortunately, Firefox does not offer the ability to securely share passwords (but then again, neither does Google).

How To Ensure Your Firefox Passwords Are 100% Safe

Want to make sure that your Firefox passwords are 100% safe while they’re stored in Mozilla Lockwise? Here are the measures you should take to lock down your passwords and make sure nobody else has access to them.

Use A VPN While Browsing

You should always use a VPN service while browsing, especially if you’re on an unsecured or public network. Public networks are probably the most dangerous place to browse and hackers often connect to cafes, libraries, and other public networks to target unsuspecting internet users. A VPN service will encrypt all of your online data to ensure that it isn’t being leaked to the wrong places.

If you’re new to VPNs and not sure where to start, then check out this list of VPNs that offer free trials.

Change Your Firefox Password Frequently

Another measure you can take is to change your Firefox password frequently. We recommend changing it at least once every 3 months to a new, unique password. If possible, use a random password generator to ensure that your password is safe and secure.

Use Two-Factor Authentication For Your Firefox Account

Lastly, make sure your two-factor authentication is turned on. This requires a texted or emailed code to be input into Firefox before anybody can view the saved passwords and adds an extra layer of security to your stored passwords.

In Conclusion

Although Firefox’s password manager doesn’t offer all of the same features that Chrome and Safari offer, it’s still an easy and secure way to manage your passwords. Providing that you have a secure Firefox account and two-step authentication enabled, you won’t have to worry about hackers breaching your password manager and stealing stored passwords.