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I like to get rid of the Master password for Mozilla since i forgot the thing.Hilmar

  • 9 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Stans

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Will uninstall FF also delete the Master password ? I like to get rid of the Master password for Mozilla Thunderbird since i forgot the thing. I am using Win 10. Hilmar

Will uninstall FF also delete the Master password ? I like to get rid of the Master password for Mozilla Thunderbird since i forgot the thing. I am using Win 10. Hilmar

All Replies (9)

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Hi Hilmar, if you have a Master Password in Firefox, that is separate from any Master Password you may have in Thunderbird, so let's keep those distinct. Is the problem in Firefox or Thunderbird?

For Firefox:

Uninstalling/reinstalling will not remove a Master Password. You can "reset" the password, but Firefox will delete your existing saved logins. More info: Reset your Primary Password if you've forgotten it.

For Thunderbird:

You similarly can remove the Master Password, and Thunderbird will delete your saved credentials for your accounts: Protect your Thunderbird passwords with a Primary Password. However, if your question is primarily about Thunderbird, a moderator can move this thread to the Thunderbird forum so one of those experts can advise on what happens to your accounts after that.

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Hello jscher2000

I have the problem with Thunderbird and wish to get rid of the “Master Password”. Deleting Thunderbird is of no Help. “Firefox” is OK. The “Reset Master Password “is of no help since I need it to do the “Reset”. I want to have it eliminated from my Computer permanently.

 Thank You 

Hilmar

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You were given the correct link, but perhaps misunderstood exactly which bit you needed.

If you know the current Master Password:

  • Menu app icon > Options > Security > 'Passwords' tab
  • click on 'Change Master Password' button
  • Enter the current master password to confirm you are authorized to change it.
  • Leave both of the new master password fields empty.
  • Click on 'OK'
  • Uncheck the checkbox 'Use a Master Password'.


The point of a Master Password is to prevent others who you allow to see your desktop from being able to easily see your passwords.

If you have lost or forgotten your master password or you want to disable the feature, you can reset the master password. Resetting the master password will remove all stored password information. Upon resetting, you will lose all the stored information in the Password Manager, this means the Master Password is removed and also all saved passwords are deleted, as this is a built-in security feature to prevent people from simply resetting your Master Password to gain access to your passwords.

Follow the info at this link to reset:

Then check the option to stop using Master Password has been removed.

  • Menu app icon > Options > Security > 'Passwords' tab
  • it should be unchecked : 'Use a Master Password'

Modified by Toad-Hall

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Hi Toad-Hall

First Line I typed . Second line came back There is no "Evaluate"

  "chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xhtl"

NS_NOINTERFACE: Component returned failure code: 0x80004002 (NS_NOINTERFACE) [nsISupports.QueryInterface]

Thanks Regards Hilmar

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You are supposed to copy and paste the following line in its entirety;

openDialog("chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xul")


then press Enter. Copy-pasting avoids typos and is much quicker and simpler anyway.

Modified by Stans

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re There is no "Evaluate"

Follow Stans advice and copy and paste the entire line from openDialog to .xtml")

If you do not see an 'Evaluate' button, Press the 'Return/Enter' key on keyboard.

When prompted with the confirmation dialog box, click on 'Reset' button.

see image below as guide.

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Toad-Hall said

Follow Stans advice and copy and paste the entire line from openDialog to .xtml")

The openDialog("chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xhtml") command doesn't work because the resetpassword.xhtml file doesn't exist. The correct command is

openDialog("chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xul")


I have submitted changes to the Tbird KB article for review and approval.

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Stans: I do believe there is going to be a change from 'resetpassword.xul' to the 'resetpassword.xhtml' in the upcoming release 74 (I think - need to check on that), hence why it was recently updated. So in effect, the .xul is in version 68 series, but may not be used in the 70 series. So really the information should state both depending upon what version you are using. Currently it is somewhat confusing for people as some are already on the betas.

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Toad-Hall said

Currently it is somewhat confusing for people as some are already on the betas.

Yeah, very confusing, plus the article editor has no listing for beta releases, so I couldn't customise for any version above 68. Once version 7x rolls out of beta, a lot of help articles will need updating.