Microsoft is testing a new password management feature in its Authenticator app, which makes the former even more useful as a one-stop shop for all your account-related information. It is amazing easy to set up, and you can sync your passwords between iOS and Android, as well as Chrome and Edge on your desktop.
Grab (or update) it Microsoft Authenticator app. Sign in with your Microsoft account and you can now use the app itself as a key-based authenticator (or a tap-to-allow authenticator) for it. I am already a fan.
From there, tap the triple “hamburger” icon in the top left corner and tap Settings. below “Beta”, switch Autofill.
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You will be prompted again to sign in with your Microsoft account. Do that, enable password sync when prompted, and you’ll now see a brand new password section in the Authenticator app:
You will then see all the passwords you previously saved in your Microsoft account, such as passwords you saved while using the Edge browser, in this section. And you can set any device you use to auto-fill password prompts with Microsoft’s app.
However, if you want to expand the functionality of this beta-tested password manager, you need to do a little more. Obviously, you can install the app on any iOS or Android device you use (as well as an iPad). And if you’re using Microsoft’s Edge browser – signed in – any passwords you save or change will be synced to the cloud and displayed on said devices. You can also download a Chrome extension, Autofill, which brings the same functionality to the rival browser.
Although autocompletion is not as elegant or security conscious as say 1 Password, it’s free to use. You can view, delete and edit saved passwords. If you switch from another password manager, you can also import saved passwords from a .CSV file. That’s about it – basic functionality, but a decent password manager if you’re already wrapped up in Microsoft’s ecosystem. And now that you can combine it with an authenticator, that’s a pretty handy security package.