Microsoft Edge loads all your saved passwords, decrypted and in plaintext, into memory at startup. Google Chrome doesn’t—is it time to switch browser?

Though Microsoft claimed that storing plaintext passwords in memory was by design, the company has changed the behavior to better protect your passwords.

If you save your passwords in Microsoft Edge, here’s something you should know. Every time you open the browser, it decrypts all your saved passwords and loads them into memory in cleartext, where ...

UPDATE: May. 6, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT This piece was updated to include a statement from Microsoft. Password managers are supposed to make life easier for users by remembering their passwords and keeping ...

Microsoft Edge removes the Custom Primary Password for its built-in password manager. Edge now uses Windows Hello or OS/device authentication to protect saved passwords. Windows Hello biometrics can't ...

TL;DR: Microsoft will stop loading saved Edge passwords in plaintext memory starting with version 148, addressing a security flaw exposed by a researcher who showed all passwords were decrypted at ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. The whole password deletion and usage debate revolves around ...

In future Microsoft Edge browser updates, users will stop loading all saved passwords into memory at startup, reducing the risk of exposure if a device is compromised. The change comes after a ...

Microsoft Edge has eliminated its Master Password feature, now requiring Windows Hello biometric authentication (fingerprint, face, or PIN) to access saved passwords ...

Microsoft Edge for Business customers can now enable secure password deployment, removing the need for organization members to share passwords insecurely. Microsoft Edge for Business now offers ...

The Microsoft Authenticator app is now issuing notifications warning that the password autofill feature is being deprecated in July, suggesting users move to Microsoft Edge instead. Microsoft ...