Microsoft Edge won’t let you access its password manager without Windows Hello

Microsoft Edge is ditching master passwords in favor of a more secure way to access the password manager.

Microsoft Edge password manager has removed support for master passwords on Windows in an update (via TechRadar). The Chromium-based browser will leave users with a couple of secure options that offer more protection, like passkeys through Windows Hello.

A previous update that brought Edge up to version 145 disabled master password creation entirely. With the browser currently on version 149, Edge will no longer allow those previously created master passwords to be used.

Windows Hello is simply Microsoft’s device-oriented 2FA system for Windows devices. The Edge browser now defaults to verifying the user’s identity with the built-in authentication, and won’t allow users to simply enter a password string of numbers, symbols, and letters.

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