Microsoft has officially announced its plan to retire the password storage and autofill feature in its Authenticator app. This change will begin in July 2025 and conclude with the full deprecation of the feature by August 1, 2025. The tech giant made the move to consolidate its credential management services under a single platform—Microsoft Edge.
By shifting password management exclusively to Edge, Microsoft aims to streamline how users store and autofill their credentials. As a result, millions of Authenticator users must now take proactive steps to secure and transfer their saved passwords before the upcoming deadlines.
Why Microsoft Is Phasing Out Autofill in Authenticator
Microsoft introduced the autofill capability in its Authenticator mobile app back in December 2020, allowing users to seamlessly enter saved usernames and passwords into login forms. While the feature offered convenience, Microsoft believes that consolidating this function into Edge will provide a more unified and secure experience.
According to Microsoft, Edge offers a more robust environment for password management and autofill, with broader browser integration and better cross-platform support. This strategic shift also aligns with the company’s long-term vision of centralizing services within its web ecosystem.
Key Deprecation Milestones
Microsoft has outlined a three-phase timeline to gradually phase out the password autofill feature:
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June 2025: Users will no longer be able to save new passwords in the Authenticator app.
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July 2025: Autofill will stop functioning entirely within the app. Additionally, all stored payment information will be permanently deleted.
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August 1, 2025: Access to saved passwords and any unsaved generated passwords will be completely disabled in Authenticator.
These changes demand urgent action from users, especially those relying heavily on the app for managing passwords or payment details.
What Users Need to Do
To maintain access to their saved credentials, users must export their passwords from Microsoft Authenticator before August 1, 2025. Those who wish to continue using Microsoft’s autofill feature will need to transition to the Edge browser, available on both iOS and Android.
Microsoft has assured users that all exported passwords (except for generated password histories) and saved addresses will securely sync to their Microsoft accounts when using Edge.
To begin the migration, users should follow these steps:
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Open Settings on their mobile device and navigate to Autofill/Passwords.
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Select Edge as the default autofill service.
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Launch Edge, sign in with their Microsoft account, and wait for the password sync to complete.
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To confirm migration, users can go to Settings > Passwords within the Edge browser to view and manage their stored credentials.
Exporting Passwords from Authenticator
For those who prefer using a different password manager or who don’t want to switch to Edge, Microsoft provides a way to export saved passwords from the Authenticator app:
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Open Microsoft Authenticator.
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Tap the menu icon and go to Settings > Autofill > Export Passwords.
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Select a preferred export location and tap Save.
Please note that only account passwords can be exported. Users must manually re-enter any payment information, as Microsoft considers this data too sensitive to export for security reasons. The deadline for exporting payment data is July 2025.
Passkeys Will Remain Available in Authenticator
Despite the discontinuation of the password autofill feature, Microsoft confirmed that Passkeys will continue to be supported in the Authenticator app. Users who rely on Passkeys to sign into their Microsoft accounts must keep the app installed and enabled as their Passkey Provider.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s decision to sunset the password and autofill feature in Authenticator reflects its ongoing push to centralize its security features within Microsoft Edge. While the transition may inconvenience some users in the short term, the company argues that the move will ultimately enhance usability and safety in the long run.
However, with strict deadlines looming, users must act quickly to export their data and choose whether to migrate to Edge or shift to another password manager entirely. Ignoring these changes could result in the permanent loss of saved credentials.
