This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Keyring, timeout for master password

  • 2 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by morfik

more options

In the opera browser I used many years ago, there was an option which allowed a user to set timeout for master password. It worked in the way that after you typed the master password, the keyring was unlocked for, let's say 1h, but this could be customized in some way -- I don't really remember now. In firefox it looks like the master password is stored till you close the app, which isn't really safe because for most of the time you simply don't log into any site. I just wanted to specify a short period of time (30min would be ideal for me) and after the time, firefox should ask me for password only if I wanted to log in, of course in the way I described here (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1059124).

Is there a way to set the timeout?

In the opera browser I used many years ago, there was an option which allowed a user to set timeout for master password. It worked in the way that after you typed the master password, the keyring was unlocked for, let's say 1h, but this could be customized in some way -- I don't really remember now. In firefox it looks like the master password is stored till you close the app, which isn't really safe because for most of the time you simply don't log into any site. I just wanted to specify a short period of time (30min would be ideal for me) and after the time, firefox should ask me for password only if I wanted to log in, of course in the way I described here (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1059124). Is there a way to set the timeout?

All Replies (2)

more options

You can log out from the Software Security Device (e.g. click Cancel in the Show Passwords dialog) to protect the passwords against viewing and force having to re-enter the MP again.

  • Edit > Preferences > Security: Passwords: "Saved Passwords" > "Show Passwords"
  • Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Encryption: Certificates > Security Devices: Software Security Device: Log Out button
more options

If I had to choose between staying logged in all the time and using this "log out button" feature, I think I wouldn't even consider the button -- an easier (and faster) way is just to close the browser and start it anew.

I'm looking a better and automated solution for closing the keyring after a certain period of time. Of course, if you typed a password in, let's say, 30min window, the time would reset and the keyring would be opened for another 30min. I think this kind of behavior was in the old opera I had used, but they stop developing the software for linux in that time, and I had to stop using it. I really miss that security feature.