Edge Browser Gets Major Upgrade with Built-In Password Manager

Microsoft's Edge browser has been quietly upgraded to include a full-fledged password manager feature. The change, which was rolled out in June this year, replaces the old Custom Primary Password option with device-based authentication, such as Windows Hello or a configured PIN.

This means that users no longer need to set up a separate password for their Edge vault, but can instead use their Windows account or a PIN to access their saved passwords. The new feature also supports passkey storage, allowing users to store next-generation passwordless credentials alongside traditional usernames and passwords.

To take advantage of this feature, users will need to ensure that they are running the latest version of Edge (142 or newer), have a personal Microsoft account set up, and Windows Hello configured on their device. The setup process involves updating Edge, confirming account status, turning on password saving and syncing, importing existing passwords from other browsers or managers, enabling passkey saving, and setting up device authentication.