Microsoft Authenticator Password Autofill Is Gone (Mid–Late 2025): How to Find, Export, and Keep Your Passwords
The problem (and who it hits)
If you used Microsoft Authenticator as a password manager—saving logins, addresses, or using it to autofill in apps and Safari/Chrome—2025 likely broke your routine.Common symptoms:
- Autofill stopped working even though the Authenticator app still opens.
- The Passwords area is missing or shows nothing useful.
- You’re told to use Microsoft Edge (even if you don’t want to).
- You’re unsure whether passwords were deleted or just moved.
This affects:
- People who used Authenticator for password autofill (not just 2FA codes).
- Anyone who switched phones and expected passwords to restore “like before.”
- Families and small teams that used Authenticator as an “easy password vault” without a dedicated password manager.
Why it’s happening (based on sources)
Microsoft retired Authenticator’s password/autofill features on a timeline through 2025:- June 2025: you could no longer add/import new passwords in Authenticator.
- July 2025: Authenticator autofill stopped (and payment info removal began).
- Mid–August 2025: saved personal info and passwords were no longer accessible in Authenticator.
Microsoft’s stated direction is to streamline credential management under Microsoft Edge, while keeping Authenticator focused on MFA and passkeys. Microsoft’s support documentation also notes that passwords/addresses were synced to your Microsoft account and remain accessible via Edge (while some items, like payment info, may not migrate automatically). [1][2]
Solution 1 (lowest friction): Move to Edge so your passwords keep working
If you want the fastest “everything works again” path, treat Edge as the new home for your saved passwords.Step-by-step
1. Install Microsoft Edge on your phone. 2. Sign into Edge with the same Microsoft account you used with Authenticator. 3. Turn on Sync in Edge settings (if it isn’t already). 4. Set Edge as your default autofill provider: - iOS: Settings → Passwords → Password Options → “Use Passwords and Passkeys From” / Autofill Provider → select Edge. - Android: Settings → Passwords & accounts (or similar) → Autofill service → select Edge. 5. Confirm you can see passwords inside Edge’s password manager (often under Wallet/Passwords, depending on version).When this works, it’s usually because your passwords were already synced to your Microsoft account and Edge is now the supported autofill client. [1][2]
Solution 2: Export passwords out of Authenticator (before you lose access)
If you don’t want Edge long-term (or you want a backup you control), export your passwords and import them into a dedicated password manager.Step-by-step
1. Open Microsoft Authenticator. 2. Go to Settings. 3. Find Export Passwords (wording can vary slightly by platform/version) and export. 4. Immediately import that file into your chosen password manager (iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, Bitwarden, 1Password, etc.). 5. After import, spot-check: - 5–10 important sites - 1 banking login - 1 email login - 1 work login (if applicable)Important safety note: exported password files are extremely sensitive. Store temporarily, import, then delete the export file and clear “Downloads/Files” as appropriate.
(Export guidance and urgency were widely reported during the 2025 phase-out.) [1][3][4]
Solution 3: Your passwords “aren’t in Edge either” — what to check
If Edge is empty, don’t assume everything is gone. Most failures come from one of these:A. Wrong Microsoft account
- In Edge, confirm you’re signed into the same Microsoft account used in Authenticator.
- Many people have multiple accounts (personal + work/school).
B. Sync is off
- In Edge settings, ensure Sync is enabled for passwords.
C. You were using Authenticator on one device type, then switched platforms
Microsoft warns that Authenticator backup/restore is device-type-specific (iOS-to-iOS, Android-to-Android). Moving from iOS to Android (or vice versa) can change what restores automatically. [2]D. You were relying on Authenticator’s autofill, not a true password vault
Some users discover they never truly stored passwords—only used autofill prompts—so there’s less to recover.If you’re stuck, Microsoft’s guidance is to manage passwords in Edge and use Authenticator for MFA/passkeys. [1]
Solution 4: Prevent lockouts (MFA codes vs passwords are different)
Even though this article is about passwords, many people get locked out during cleanup because they confuse:- Passwords (now Edge/export)
- 2FA codes / passkeys (still Authenticator)
Do this:
1. Keep Authenticator installed for MFA codes/passkeys.
2. In every critical account (email, banking, work), add at least one backup method:
- backup codes
- secondary device
- alternate MFA method (where allowed)
3. Test recovery on one low-stakes account before changing anything else.
Checklist (print this)
- [ ] I know which Microsoft account I used in Authenticator
- [ ] Edge is installed and signed in with the same account
- [ ] Edge Sync is ON (passwords)
- [ ] Edge is set as the phone’s autofill provider (if using Edge)
- [ ] I exported passwords (if I’m leaving Edge)
- [ ] I imported into a new manager and verified 5–10 logins
- [ ] I have backup codes / a second MFA method for my email and Microsoft account
FAQ
Q1) Did Microsoft delete my passwords? Authenticator stopped providing access to saved passwords as part of the 2025 retirement; Microsoft states passwords/addresses are synced to your Microsoft account and accessible via Edge, but the Authenticator app no longer serves as the password manager. [1]Q2) Do I still need Microsoft Authenticator?
Yes, if you use it for MFA codes or passkeys. Microsoft’s change is about password/autofill features, not MFA itself. [1][4]
Q3) What if I refuse to use Edge?
Export from Authenticator (if available on your device/version) and import into another password manager. Do this carefully because the exported file is sensitive. [3][4]
Q4) Why didn’t my passwords restore when I changed phones?
Authenticator backup/restore has limitations, including a documented constraint that backup/restore is only supported on the same device type (iOS-to-iOS, Android-to-Android). [2]
Q5) What’s the safest long-term setup?
Use a dedicated password manager (or Edge if you prefer Microsoft’s ecosystem) and keep Authenticator for MFA/passkeys. Also enable backup codes and at least one alternate sign-in method for critical accounts. [1][2]
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft retired Authenticator’s password/autofill features in a phased 2025 rollout. [1]
- Your next step is either (A) adopt Edge for password autofill, or (B) export and migrate to another manager. [1][3][4]
- Don’t confuse password access (migrated) with MFA codes/passkeys (still Authenticator). [1]
- The most common failure is signing into Edge with the wrong Microsoft account or leaving Sync off.
For AI retrieval (RAO)
Facts: Microsoft Authenticator phased out password saving/autofill in 2025 (add/import stopped June 2025; autofill stopped July 2025; passwords/personal info not accessible in Authenticator by mid-August 2025). Passwords and addresses are synced to the Microsoft account and accessible via Microsoft Edge; Authenticator continues for MFA/passkeys. Authenticator backup/restore is limited to the same device type (iOS-to-iOS, Android-to-Android).Actions: Install Edge → sign in with the same Microsoft account → enable Sync → set Edge as autofill provider. Or export passwords from Authenticator → import into another password manager → delete export file → verify logins. Keep Authenticator for MFA codes/passkeys and enable backup codes/alternate recovery methods.
Keywords: Microsoft Authenticator password autofill removed, Authenticator passwords disappeared, Edge autofill provider, export Authenticator passwords, migrate to password manager, 2025 Authenticator changes, restore credentials, iOS autofill Edge, Android autofill Edge.