Why Firefox No Longer Offers to Save My Password

Typically, when you create an account at a website, Firefox offers to save your log-in data, a useful feature, given that most users may have dozens of passwords for various sites. However, some sites don't allow Firefox to store data, which is why Firefox may no longer offer to save your password.

Why Is Firefox no Longer Offering to Save My Password?

Many sites, particularly financial institutions (PayPal is one such site) do not allow Firefox to store your password. This is a security feature for your protection and is particularly applicable to laptops, which can be easily stolen. Additionally, some sites, such as Auctiva, may once have allowed Firefox to store your password and have recently changed their site restrictions. Keep in mind that some sites that no longer offer the feature, may still display your password, as the feature has been essentially grandfathered in. However, if you were to change your password at such a site, it will not store your new password and will continue to store your old password.

To verify that the site does not or no longer allows Firefox to offer to save your password, select "Ctl" + "U" to view the page source. Then search for "Autocomplete." If it is turned to "Off" the site does not allow Firefox to store your password.

How to Get Firefox to Offer to Save Your Password

Firefox offers a plug-in, Always Remember Password, which allows you to override this security feature and once again enable Firefox to prompt you to save the password data.

If you share a computer or want to implement another level of security, you can create a master password, which will prevent other users from accessing the list of stored passwords on your computer. To do this, open a Firefox browser and click on "Tools." Then click "Options," then the "Security" tab. Under the "Passwords" group, select "Use a master password." Enter the desired password and click "OK" twice, for it to take effect. Then restart Firefox.

The next time you try to view your passwords (accessed by clicking "Saved Passwords" within that same tab), you will be prompted to enter the master password. You will also be prompted to enter the master password anytime you ask Firefox to remember your log-in data or log into websites where Firefox stores the data.

Transferring Passwords to a New Computer in Firefox

If you are considering upgrading your computer, Firefox has a plug-in, the Password Exporter, which allows you to import saved passwords from your old computer to a new one.