Microsoft Edge Drops Master Password and Moves Saved Logins to Windows Hello

Microsoft Edge has removed its Master Password feature, meaning saved passwords and autofill data are now protected through Windows Hello instead. The change took effect on June 4, 2026, and it marks another step in Microsoft’s wider move toward passwordless security.

The Master Password, also known as Custom Primary Password, gave Edge users an extra password that had to be entered before the browser could autofill login details or reveal saved credentials. It worked like a separate lock for the browser’s password manager.

That option is now gone. On Windows PCs, Edge will rely on Windows Hello, which means users will verify themselves through a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition when accessing saved passwords or autofill data.

Microsoft says this approach is more secure because authentication is tied to the physical device and the user’s local security setup, rather than depending on another password that can be guessed, reused, stolen, or phished.

Edge is moving deeper into Microsoft’s passwordless security plan

The change fits Microsoft’s long running effort to reduce reliance on traditional passwords. The company has been pushing Windows Hello, passkeys, biometric sign in, and device bound authentication across Windows and Microsoft accounts for years.

Old Edge protection	New Edge protection
Master Password or Custom Primary Password	Windows Hello
One extra browser password	PIN, fingerprint, or face unlock
Password based protection	Device tied authentication
Could be guessed or stolen	Requires local device verification
Separate Edge setting	Built into Windows security

For many users, the change may feel simpler. Instead of remembering another password, they can use the same Windows Hello method they already use to sign in to their PC.

For others, it may feel like Microsoft is removing choice. Some people preferred having a separate browser password because it added another layer between the operating system and the browser’s saved credentials. With the old setup gone, Edge users are now expected to rely on Windows Hello.

Why Microsoft thinks Windows Hello is safer

Traditional passwords have several weaknesses. People reuse them, forget them, store them insecurely, or fall for phishing pages. A master password can help, but it is still another password.

Windows Hello works differently. It links authentication to the device. Your face, fingerprint, or PIN is used locally to unlock credentials. The biometric data does not work like a normal password that can simply be typed into another machine.

A PIN may sound weaker than a password at first, but Windows Hello PINs are device specific. If someone learns your PIN, it does not automatically work on another PC or online account. That makes it different from a regular password that can be reused anywhere.

This is the same reasoning behind Microsoft’s wider passkey push. The goal is to make sign ins harder to steal and easier to use.

The change could be inconvenient for some Edge users

Even if Windows Hello is more secure in many situations, the removal of Master Password may frustrate some people. A separate browser password gave users a clear sense of control. They could decide when Edge should ask for it and how the browser protected autofill.

Now, the protection depends on Windows Hello availability and setup. If your PC has a fingerprint reader or compatible camera, the experience may be fast. If not, you will likely use a PIN.

This also means people who share a PC need to be careful. Saved passwords should be tied to the right Windows account, and every person using the machine should have their own account rather than sharing one profile. Otherwise, Windows Hello cannot provide the same level of separation.

Edge is becoming more tied to Windows security

The move also shows how closely Edge is now tied to Windows itself. Instead of maintaining a separate browser level password system, Microsoft is pushing users toward the operating system’s built in identity tools.

That can make security more consistent across Windows, Edge, Microsoft accounts, and passkey supported websites. But it also means users who prefer independent controls inside the browser have fewer options.

For most people, the change will likely be easy to adapt to. Windows Hello is fast, familiar, and generally secure. But Microsoft should still make the transition clear, especially for users who relied on Master Password as part of their personal security routine.

Saved browser passwords are highly sensitive. They can unlock email, banking, work tools, shopping accounts, social media, and cloud storage. Any change to how those passwords are protected needs to be explained carefully.

Microsoft’s message is clear: Edge is leaving the old master password model behind and moving fully toward device based authentication. For users, that means your face, fingerprint, or Windows Hello PIN is now the main gatekeeper for saved passwords in Edge.