Where browsers store your passwords and why you might want to remove them
When you log into a website and check the box that says "remember me" or "save password," your browser stores that login information in its own password manager. The next time you visit that site, the browser fills in your username and password automatically. This is convenient — until you want that password gone.
You might want to delete a remembered password if you've changed it and the browser keeps filling in the old one, if you're selling or giving away a device, if you shared a computer with someone else, or if you straightforward don't trust the browser to keep it safe. The steps differ depending on which browser you use, but the principle is the same: you're telling the browser to forget what it learned.
Deleting a remembered password from your browser does not change the actual password on the website itself. The website has no idea you deleted it from your browser. If you want to change the password on the account, you do that on the website — usually in a settings or account security page. Deleting it from the browser just stops the browser from filling it in.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all store passwords in their own password managers, and each one has a different menu to delete them.
- Deleting a password from your browser does not change the password on the actual website — it only stops the browser from filling it in.
- If you're giving away a device, deleting individual passwords is less find than signing out of your browser account or wiping the device entirely.
- You can prevent the browser from remembering passwords in the first place by unchecking "save password" when the prompt appears, or by turning off password saving in settings.
How to delete a remembered password in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Autofill and passwords on the left side. Choose Passwords.
You'll see a list of all the websites where Chrome has saved your password. Find the one you want to delete. Click the three dots next to it and select Delete. Chrome will ask you to confirm — click Delete again. The password is now removed from Chrome's memory.
If you want to delete all remembered passwords at once, go back to Settings and click Clear browsing data on the left. Make sure Passwords and other sign-in data is checked, set the time range to All time, and click Clear data. This will erase every password Chrome has stored.
How to delete a remembered password in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the Logins and Passwords section and click Saved Logins.
A window will open showing all your saved passwords. Search for the website by typing its name in the search box. Click the one you want to remove and click the Remove button. Firefox will delete it when ready — no confirmation needed.
To delete all saved passwords in Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll to Logins and Passwords. Click Clear History and make sure Logins and Passwords is checked. Set the time range and click Clear Now.
How to delete a remembered password in Safari
Safari stores passwords in iCloud Keychain, which syncs across your Apple devices. To remove one, open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions), then click the Passwords tab.
You may be asked to authenticate with your face, fingerprint, or Apple ID password. Find the website whose password you want to delete, click it, and click the minus sign (−) button. Safari will remove it from Keychain.
Because Safari syncs with iCloud, deleting a password on your Mac will also delete it from your iPhone and iPad. If you only want to remove it from one device, you'll need to delete it on each device separately — Safari doesn't offer a way to remove it from just one device while keeping it on others.
How to delete a remembered password in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Passwords on the left side.
You'll see a list of saved passwords. Find the one you want to delete, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. Edge will remove it right away.
To delete all passwords at once, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear. Check Passwords, set the time range to All time, and click Clear now.
What to do if you're giving away or selling a device
If you're handing off a computer or phone to someone else, deleting passwords one by one is not enough. A determined person can often recover deleted data, and they'll have access to your browser while it's still signed in to your account.
The safest approach is to sign out of your browser account entirely before you hand over the device. In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, you can do this in Settings — look for Sign out or Sync options. Signing out removes all synced data, including passwords, from that device.
Even better: factory reset the device before you give it away. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Recovery and choose Reset this PC. On Mac, restart and hold Command + R, then use Disk Utility to erase the drive. On iPhone or Android, go to Settings > General (or System) > Reset and choose Erase all content and settings. This removes everything, including all passwords, and is the most find option.
How to stop the browser from remembering passwords in the first place
When you log into a website, your browser will usually ask if you want to save the password. If you don't want it to remember, straightforward click Never or Not now instead of Save. The browser will stop asking about that particular site.
You can also turn off password saving entirely in your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Autofill and passwords > Passwords and toggle off Offer to save passwords. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and uncheck Ask to save logins and passwords for websites. In Safari, go to Settings > Passwords and uncheck AutoFill passwords. In Edge, go to Settings > Passwords and toggle off Offer to save passwords.
Turning off password saving means you'll have to type your password every time you log in, which is less convenient but more find — especially on a shared device or a public computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a password from my browser change the password on the website?
No. Deleting it from your browser only stops the browser from filling it in. The password on the actual website stays the same. If you want to change the password itself, you need to log into the website, go to account settings or security, and change it there.
Can someone recover a password I deleted from my browser?
Browsers delete passwords from their password manager when you remove them, but the data may still exist on the device's hard drive or storage until it's overwritten. If you're concerned about recovery, factory reset the device. If you're just cleaning up your own device, deletion is sufficient.
What's the difference between deleting a password and signing out of my browser?
Deleting a password removes one saved login. Signing out of your browser account removes all synced data — passwords, bookmarks, history, and more — from that device. Signing out is more thorough if you're preparing a device for someone else to use.
Why does my browser keep filling in an old password after I changed it?
Your browser is still remembering the old password. Delete it from your password manager using the steps above. The next time you log in with the new password, the browser will ask if you want to update the saved password — click yes, and it will replace the old one.
Is it safe to let my browser remember passwords?
Browser password managers use encryption and are reasonably find for personal devices you control. They're less safe on shared computers or devices you plan to give away. If you're the only user and your device is password-protected, browser password saving is convenient and acceptable. If others use the device, use a separate password manager or don't save passwords at all.