How To Turn Off Google Password Manager
Integrated into the Chrome browser, Google Password Manager is a convenient tool for storing and autofilling your passwords across different devices, making it easier to manage your online accounts. However, there are times when you might prefer to disable this feature—whether you want to switch to another password manager or manage your credentials manually.
This guide will explain how to turn off Google Password Manager on desktop and mobile devices in a few quick steps. You'll also learn how to use virtual cards to boost the security of your online transactions.
Disclaimer: The information in this guide is accurate as of August 2024. Google Password Manager's features may vary after the publication of this article. For up-to-date information, please refer to Google's support website.
How To Disable Google Password Manager
If you want to disable all of Google Password Manager features, you'll have to do it one feature at a time. The specific steps vary depending on whether you're deactivating it on a desktop, Android, or iOS device.
How To Disable Google Password Manager on Desktop
To deactivate Google Password Manager on desktop devices[1], start by disabling it from storing your passwords in these five steps:
- Open Google Chrome on your computer.
- Click on your profile picture or initials in the top right-hand corner of the Chrome toolbar.
- Select the Google Password Manager icon (it looks like a key).
- On the following page, click on Settings
- Disable the Offer to save passwords and passkeys toggle.
In the same menu, you can find the Sign in automatically option. Turning it off will prevent Google Password Manager from automatically signing you in when visiting websites where you opted for Auto Sign-in. You can also export your passwords to use them with a different password manager by clicking Export passwords.
To delete your passwords from Google Password Manager, click on Passwords instead of Settings on the Google Password Manager page. Click on the website whose password you want to delete, and choose Delete from the menu that shows up.
How To Disable Google Password Manager on Android
To stop Google Password Manager from storing your passwords on an Android device[2], follow these five steps:
- Open Google Chrome on your phone or tablet
- Tap the three vertical dots for the "More" menu at the top right-hand side, and choose Settings
- Tap on Google Password Manager
- Tap on Settings in the lower right-hand corner
- Disable the Offer to save passwords toggle
You can disable auto sign-in and export your passwords from the Settings menu.
To delete a password, tap on Passwords in the lower left-hand corner of the Google Password Manager page. Tap on an account whose password you want to delete, and choose Delete from the password management options that appear.
How To Disable Google Password Manager on iPhone and iPad
You can prevent Google Password Manager from storing passwords[3] on iPhone and iPad by following these five steps:
- Open the Chrome browser on your device
- Tap the three horizontal dots for the "More" menu
- Choose Password Manager
- Tap on Settings in the lower left-hand corner
- Turn off Offer to Save Passwords
You can also export your passwords from the same menu. To turn off autofill in other apps, choose the Passwords in Other Apps option from the Settings menu, tap Settings, and then Password Options. There, you can turn off the AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys option.
If you want to delete a password, you can tap Edit from the Password Manager screen, tap on the password you want to delete under Saved Passwords, and tap on Delete.
Alternatives To Google Password Manager
If you want to stop using Google Password Manager and keep using Chrome, numerous standalone password managers offer a Chrome browser extension. These typically provide more transparency regarding encryption and other security measures they use. They might also offer additional password and file management features such as emergency access, file storage in their vaults, or even enterprise password management features.
Some of these alternatives include:
Should I Store Payment Card Details in Password Managers?
On top of keeping your passwords secure and allowing you to use them conveniently, password managers can store other sensitive information—like your payment card numbers. Most standalone password managers have that as an integrated feature. Browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera GX offer it as a feature you can use alongside their password managers.
Password managers can use encryption and other security measures to safeguard your payment card details from theft and misuse. However, their protection only extends to the information in storage. As soon as you use the password manager to fill out payment card details and complete a transaction, the security of your financial information rests on the merchant—and you have no control over their server protection.
To shield your financial information when it's stored on merchant servers, consider using virtual cards for online transactions. These cards come with random card numbers you can use when shopping online, reducing the chances of your actual bank details getting stolen in merchant data breaches. For enhanced security and advanced spending controls, consider a specialized provider like Privacy.
Use Privacy Cards To Boost Data Security
Privacy is a BBB-accredited virtual card provider that offers its 250,000+ users a secure way to manage their online payments.
When you sign up for Privacy and connect your debit card or bank account, you can generate multiple virtual cards, each with a unique 16-digit card number, expiration date, and security code. These virtual cards can be used as regular payment cards to protect your underlying financial information from potential hackers.
As a PCI-DSS-compliant service provider, Privacy employs security measures similar to those of your bank, such as:
- AES-256 encryption to reduce the risk of data exposure
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) to reduce the risk of unauthorized access due to compromised passwords
- Transaction alerts whenever your virtual cards are used or declined to help you spot unusual activity
Privacy's security protocols are rigorously tested through frequent third-party audits, ensuring its measures comply with the highest data protection standards.
Privacy Card Types and Features
Privacy offers three types of virtual cards:
Privacy allows you to pause or close your cards anytime, declining all further charges. This feature can help minimize the risk of unwanted charges that may occur when canceling subscriptions, for example. You can also set spending limits on each card, and Privacy will not authorize charges above the limit. This can help protect you from hidden fees and price hikes you weren't aware of.
Additional Convenience Features
Beyond boosting online security, Privacy offers several convenience features to make it easier to transact online:
- 1Password Integration—Easily integrate Privacy with 1Password, streamlining the process of managing virtual cards and passwords at the same time.
- Privacy App—To manage your virtual cards on the go, download the Privacy App, which is available for Android and iOS. You can monitor transactions, create new cards, and set spending limits right from your mobile device.
- Privacy Browser Extension—Install the Privacy Browser Extension—available for Edge, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Safari for iOS—to quickly generate virtual cards during online checkout.
How To Join Privacy
To start generating virtual cards with Privacy, follow four steps:
- Register
- Complete the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process
- Connect your bank account or debit card to fund your Privacy account
- Request your first Privacy Card
Privacy offers four plans:
