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

Bookmark Master Password

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

How can I stop Firefox from asking for the master password for bookmarks on start up? Often I don't need to use a password. It is very annoying and I think it is dangerous because then if I step away anyone has the use of my passwords. Firefox used to only ask when you needed to use a password to login to a site. I think this change is dangerous.

How can I stop Firefox from asking for the master password for bookmarks on start up? Often I don't need to use a password. It is very annoying and I think it is dangerous because then if I step away anyone has the use of my passwords. Firefox used to only ask when you needed to use a password to login to a site. I think this change is dangerous.

Chosen solution

The Primary (Master) Password is only asked when the Password Manager is called on. If you are using sync or accessing a web page that needs a password, this is the cause of your issue.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

more options

Chosen Solution

The Primary (Master) Password is only asked when the Password Manager is called on. If you are using sync or accessing a web page that needs a password, this is the cause of your issue.

more options

Thank you, I did not realize I had sync turned on. I may have used it once to try and transfer my logins from an older computer.

more options

When you enter the Primary Password when prompted then you log in to the Software Security Device (Password Manager) and you unlock the passwords and have access to the stored passwords until you log out of the Software Security Device. You can logout of the Software Security Device (Password Manager or about:logins) by canceling the dialog to enter the Primary Password like you get when you click the eye icon to reveal a password on the about:logins page (you may have to close and reopen about:logins) and Firefox will prompt you once again for the PP when required to access the logins. You can test this by reopening about:logins what would give you a PP prompt. For Sync, supplying the PP to login shortly after startup is only a one time action and you can cancel a PP prompt on about:logins to re-lock the logins once Sync is connected.

You can also log out of the Software Security Device by clicking Cancel in a primary password dialog to protect the passwords against viewing and force having to re-enter the PP again. You can manually log out in the Security Device manager.

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Certificates ->
    Security Devices: Software Security Device: Log Out button in the right sidebar