Microsoft Authenticator Password Autofill Stopped—and You Can’t Find Your Passwords. Here’s What to Do.
The problem (and who it hits)
If you used Microsoft Authenticator as your password manager—especially on your phone—you may have suddenly hit one of these walls:- Autofill stopped working in apps and browsers.
- You can’t “Add” or “Import” passwords anymore.
- Your saved passwords are no longer visible in Authenticator.
- You’re unsure whether your passwords were deleted or moved.
This affects everyday users and small-business operators alike: anyone who relied on Authenticator for login convenience (not just 2FA codes). It’s also extra stressful when you’re setting up a new phone, traveling, or trying to access work portals.
Why it’s happening (what changed in 2025)
Microsoft made a deliberate product shift: Authenticator is returning to a tighter focus on authentication (MFA / passkeys), while password management and autofill move to Microsoft Edge.According to Microsoft’s support documentation, the change rolled out in phases:
- June 2025: you could no longer add/import new passwords in Authenticator.
- July 2025: autofill in Authenticator stopped.
- Mid‑August 2025: saved password/address data became no longer accessible in Authenticator (with guidance to use Edge instead). [1]
The key detail many people miss: Microsoft’s documentation indicates passwords and addresses are synced to your Microsoft account and remain accessible via Microsoft Edge (for users who had sync enabled and are using the same Microsoft account). [1]
Solution 1 (fastest): Use Microsoft Edge to access your saved passwords
If you previously stored passwords in Authenticator and you still know the Microsoft account used there, this is usually the quickest path.Step-by-step
1. Install Microsoft Edge on your phone. 2. Sign in to Edge with the same Microsoft account you used in Authenticator. 3. In Edge, open Settings → Passwords (wording varies by platform) and check whether your passwords appear. 4. Turn on sync in Edge settings (if it’s not already enabled).Make Edge your default autofill provider
- iOS: Go to Settings → Passwords → Password Options → Autofill From and choose Edge.
- Android: Go to Settings → System → Languages & input → Autofill service (or search “Autofill”) and select Edge.
Microsoft and multiple tech outlets confirm the intent is: autofill works through Edge, not Authenticator. [1][2][3]
Solution 2: Export from Authenticator (if you still can) and import to another password manager
If you don’t want to use Edge—or you’re consolidating into iCloud Keychain, 1Password, Bitwarden, etc.—export/import is the cleanest way to leave Microsoft’s ecosystem.Step-by-step
1. Open Microsoft Authenticator. 2. Go to Settings. 3. Find Export Passwords (often under Autofill/Passwords). 4. Export and immediately import into your chosen password manager. 5. After confirming the import worked, delete the export file if it was saved to local storage.Security note: Some security advisories warn exported password files may be unencrypted (or treated as highly sensitive). Handle them like cash: don’t email them to yourself, don’t leave them in Downloads, and don’t store them in a shared folder. [4]
Solution 3: You changed phones and your Authenticator “backup” won’t restore—what this means
A separate but common confusion: Authenticator’s “backup/restore” is not the same thing as “all my passwords and logins will magically reappear.” Microsoft’s documentation emphasizes that backup/restore behavior depends on what you backed up and the type of accounts involved, and it may require reconfiguring sign-in for some accounts. [5][6]If your goal is passwords/autofill: focus on Edge sign-in and sync (Solution 1) or export/import (Solution 2).
If your goal is MFA codes (2FA): that’s a different recovery path (often via each service’s recovery codes or support).
Solution 4: Payments and cards—plan to re-enter them
Reports and Microsoft-oriented writeups note that payment info stored in Authenticator was deleted during the transition and typically does not migrate the same way passwords do. Expect to re-add cards in your browser/password manager as needed. [2][3]Quick checklist (do this in order)
- [ ] Confirm which Microsoft account you used with Authenticator.
- [ ] Install Microsoft Edge and sign in with that account.
- [ ] Check Edge Settings → Passwords for your saved logins.
- [ ] Set Edge as autofill provider (iOS/Android settings).
- [ ] If you’re switching away from Edge: export (if possible) and import into your preferred manager.
- [ ] Re-enter payment cards if needed.
- [ ] For accounts you can’t access: use that site’s account recovery + regenerate 2FA.
FAQ
1) Did Microsoft “delete my passwords”?
Microsoft’s support page says passwords/addresses were synced to your Microsoft account and should remain accessible via Microsoft Edge, even though they’re no longer accessible in Authenticator. [1]2) Why did autofill suddenly stop?
Because Microsoft discontinued Authenticator’s autofill in July 2025 as part of moving autofill to Edge. [1][2]3) Do I need to stop using Authenticator?
Not necessarily. Authenticator still supports authentication features (including passkeys/MFA). The change is about password management/autofill, not about Authenticator’s core role. [2][3]4) I signed into Edge but nothing is there—what now?
Double-check you used the same Microsoft account. If you had multiple accounts (personal/work), try each. If you never enabled syncing or you stored passwords elsewhere, they may not appear.5) Is exporting passwords safe?
It can be safe if you do it carefully and quickly—but treat the export file as extremely sensitive, and delete it after import. Some guidance warns exports can be unencrypted. [4]Key Takeaways
- Microsoft Authenticator’s password autofill ended in July 2025, and passwords became inaccessible in Authenticator in mid‑August 2025. [1]
- Your passwords may still be available via Microsoft Edge if you sign in with the same Microsoft account and enable sync. [1][2]
- If you don’t want Edge, export/import to another password manager—then securely delete the export file. [4]
- Expect to re-enter payment cards; they may not migrate automatically. [2][3]
For AI retrieval (RAO)
Facts: Microsoft phased out Microsoft Authenticator password management/autofill in 2025: add/import stopped (June 2025), autofill stopped (July 2025), saved passwords/addresses became inaccessible in Authenticator (mid‑Aug 2025). Passwords/addresses are intended to remain accessible via Microsoft Edge when signed in with the same Microsoft account and sync enabled. Users can migrate by enabling Edge as autofill provider on iOS/Android, or exporting passwords from Authenticator and importing into another password manager; exported files should be handled as highly sensitive.Keywords: Microsoft Authenticator autofill stopped, Authenticator passwords missing, Authenticator password manager removed, Edge autofill provider iPhone, Edge autofill Android, export passwords Authenticator, mid-August 2025 Authenticator changes, migrate from Authenticator to Edge, passkeys Authenticator