Browsers have come a long way in the last decade. One common feature is the ability to store and manage passwords alongside cookies and browsing history. At first, this was a handy way to improve password security. As time went on, the limitations inherent in using a browser-based password manager became apparent, as did the advantages of dedicated zero-knowledge encryption password managers that worked across platforms and browsers.
The limitations of using browsers to save passwords
While storing passwords in a browser may seem convenient at first, over time, the fundamental restrictions will limit access to credentials on certain devices or platforms, including desktop environments. These browser options also don’t have a built-in system for sharing logins with colleagues or family members, which inevitably leads to insecure sharing practices and compromises the security of those accounts. And while most browsers offer some form of password management, they do not have the same level of dedicated security built into their platforms as stand-alone password managers like Bitwarden.
To mitigate these risks, it’s crucial to choose a reputable password manager that employs robust security measures, such as end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication. Users should also be cautious when using public computers or unsecured networks and avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts. By taking these precautions, you can significantly enhance the security of sensitive information.
Most browsers have their password managers enabled by default. This blog will walk through how to quickly disable that feature to make the switch to Bitwarden much smoother.
Passwords can easily be exported from a web browser and imported directly into a Bitwarden Vault. Learn how to import data.
Of course, browsers and their UI change over time. If this article contains out-of-date instructions, there are links to each browser’s official help page below.
Google Chrome Password Manager
Chrome is the most widely used browser. One reason is that Android is the most widely used operating system on the planet. Another reason is that Chrome makes saving and managing passwords fairly simple. However, using Chrome Password Manager means that access to credentials will be restricted to select devices and available only in this browser. Chrome also does not protect saved credentials with a master password by default. To avoid these limitations, the Bitwarden extension can secure credentials while offering flexibility. Users can log in to the Bitwarden extension to manage and access their credentials across multiple devices.
Chrome’s manager settings are in the Passwords and Autofill > Google Password Manager menu — easy!
Mozilla Firefox Password Manager
Firefox is generally considered more privacy-focused than Chrome; it even lets you prevent saved login credentials from being used until a master password is entered. But even with the master password, this is still a web browser, and it doesn't offer the same level of dedicated security as a stand-alone password manager. Using Firefox Password Manager limits the platforms and devices on which you can access credentials and doesn’t support secure sharing.
Firefox is similar; under Settings > Privacy & Security > Passwords, users can uncheck the options.
Microsoft Edge Password Manager
Microsoft Edge is based on Chromium, the same browser on which Chrome is forked. Like Chrome, the password feature is found in its own section. Where Chrome’s password manager is located at chrome://password-manager/passwords, Edge’s can be found at edge://settings/autofill/passwords. Also, like Chrome, Edge does not protect passwords with a master password, so anyone with access to a device could open the browser, go to the password manager, and view any password you have saved. Microsoft Edge Password Manager restricts access to credentials to a single browser, lacks support for secure sharing, and doesn’t offer the same level of security as a dedicated password manager.
In Edge, take a quick trip to Passwords and turn the slider to the “off” position.
Safari Password Manager
Safari does offer a master password to protect passwords. Unlike Firefox and Chrome, Safari’s master password is set by default as the user password for the device. While this is a step in the right direction, if someone knows a user’s password, they could then access any credentials stored in Safari. Storing passwords in Safari also limits you to using the Apple ecosystem.
Safari uses iCloud Keychain, which is a bit more complicated to disable. Before doing so, it’s important to know what items are stored in the browser and how they are used.
For the purposes of this article, disabling auto-fill is all that is necessary. Safari also allows the clean up and migration of any passwords that have found their way into the locally stored keychain, which you can access by visiting the Settings > Passwords section of Safari. However, using a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden can provide seamless access to credentials across platforms, including mobile devices.
Opera Password Manager
Opera is another Chromium-based browser, so everything that applies to passwords stored in Chrome also applies to Opera. Although Opera is built to offer a more secure and private browsing experience, it is not recommended to store passwords in Opera’s password manager. Like with Chrome, no master password is required to view saved credentials in Opera, and you won’t have easy access to logins across different devices and browsers.
Opera lets users disable password saving on a site-by-site basis or globally. Seeking feedback to improve security and user experience is crucial, and leveraging a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden can enhance security and enable cross-device access.
In Opera, you’ll find a similar menu under Full browser settings > Autofill and passwords > Password Manager.
Brave Password Manager
Brave is one of the more secure web browsers available. Brave can even enable private windows through Tor to hide IP addresses. Even so, the Brave password manager is as stripped-down as Opera’s. There is no master password option, and no password check feature. Although Brave is a popular browser among the Bitwarden community, the best option is to use it alongside the Bitwarden browser extension for optimal security and cross-platform access to passwords. For more information on setting up and using Bitwarden with Brave, refer to the Clients section of the Contributing Documentation.
The Brave browser is also under the Passwords and autofill > Password Manager section. Based on Chromium, it shares Chrome's look and options.
Vivaldi Password Manager
Vivaldi doesn't have a full-featured password manager like the other browsers on this list. That's actually a good thing here. It means you can simply configure it to stop saving passwords right after installation, without needing to export or delete anything first. That said, the lack of a built-in password manager makes it all the more reason to use a dedicated tool like Bitwarden to keep logins secure and accessible across all devices and platforms.
To disable password storage and prompts in Vivaldi, you’d go into Settings > Passwords and uncheck “Save Webpage Passwords.”
Tor Password Manager
While Tor may share roots with some of the browsers here, the fact that it offers permanent private browsing mode is great! Out of the box, there is nothing to disable. But if you changed this, you can undo it by going to Preferences > Privacy and Security and unchecking the box to save logins and passwords. Using a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden, along with a privacy-focused browser like Tor, is a great step towards staying safe online.
Installing the Bitwarden browser extension
With the browser's built-in password manager disabled, it's time to install the Bitwarden browser extension. The process is similar across all web browsers (especially those based on Chromium). The steps are:
Open the web browser.
Head to the Bitwarden browser extension listings.
Click on Download Now.
On the extension listing page, click Install (or Add to X - Where X is the name of the browser in question).
When prompted, click Add Extension.
Allow the extension installation to complete.
Once the extension is installed, it's just a matter of logging in to a valid Bitwarden account via the extension's drop-down menu.
A huge step for security
Now that your browser isn’t saving anything automatically, it will be much easier to keep track of the items that you may need to add or update in your Bitwarden vault.
It’s a good feeling knowing that your most important credentials are safe and sound, and centrally located in a cross-platform solution.
Safe browsing!