Microsoft Autofill will never sync passwords

Innov8 15

We have been using authenticator/autofill for at least a year, however, for the last 6 months it will not sync passwords, ever. We have it installed on Android and 2 x WIndows applications and they will never sync. We sync, and it completes, yet new passwords are not sent to any other device, we constantly have to email or message ourselves with passwords. Can someone explain what is going on here?

Anonymous

2023-11-11T12:30:27.0466667+00:00

It fails to auto-sync, particularly if you add a password on the desktop using any browser other than Edge.

Edge might behave behaviour but I do not use it.

The only way to sync passwords is to remember to go to the extension settings and do a manual sync occasionally. If you tried this already, then maybe try de-installing and re-installing it. As far as I know on Windows it is a desktop browser extension. Generally OK but failing to auto-sync is a problem that does not seem to go away.
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Anonymous

2023-12-22T19:22:28.5966667+00:00

Same account everywhere. Tried reset everything. Tried clearing down everything, export and import. All devices full permission given. The final conclusion it does not auto sync.

Only this month switched to a free 12 month subscription for another password manager. It has flaws too but extra features compared to MS autofill. I used ms autofill for about 3-4 years but the sync issue was the final thing that drove me away.

Maybe I will give it another go in 12 months but seems unlikely unless it improves on the glitches.
Innov8 15 Reputation points

2024-01-09T01:42:50.2466667+00:00

@Anonymous this is not the issue here. It will not sync full stop.

2 answers

Jan Narkiewicz 10 Reputation points

2024-01-06T10:40:57.11+00:00

I tried many things and the solution was simple (on Google, Chrome running on Windows 11). When you look at the list of passwords saved in Autofill there are two tabs -- "Saved passwords" and "Never saved" where "Never saved" contains just URLs and no username/passwords (nothing to save here). Delete the invalid entries under the "Never saved" -- sync just worked again and there was world peace:
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Anonymous

2024-01-07T13:01:52.3133333+00:00

Not got it installed anymore but from memory I had no blocked URLs or anything of the sort. I used the extension with Firefox, Chrome and now Brave browser. It worked ok till about a year ago when upon adding a new password in the browser, it would not auto-sync until manually going into Manage Passwords and pressing Sync.

This was clear it was not syncing as on an iPhone, I could not see the new password. Now even after syncing manually in desktop browser, going to iOS again meant opening up the app to let it sync and get the new password.

I have tried several password managers, none are perfect. Autofill is nearly the best even with the sync issue which I have had problem with. The sign in remains persistent on desktop browser unless you explicitly opt to verify upon login. It is very easy to select the lazy option to stay signed in all the time which is security risk. 2FA does exist for the Windows account you use. Other annoyances, clearing down a big list of password, no option to mass delete. And even if you do clear down individually I have found passwords hanging around on another device.

For now opting to use a cheap paid password manager for next 10 odd months, may give MS Autofill another go later. It still gets used for storying verified IDs.

Arzi 0 Reputation points

2024-03-01T16:52:20.99+00:00

Love your sense of humor. Thanks for lightening up and for a very clear answer.

1000clouds 0 Reputation points

2024-04-09T11:57:40.5066667+00:00

I have nothing in never saved tab, but my plug-in still does not sync. I have to sync manually. Has anyone found solution of this problem?
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Innov8 15 Reputation points

2024-06-28T00:22:01.34+00:00

Coming back to this WILL YOU SORT YOUR APP OUT! I turn off address saving as it saves every single thing that I type as an address, then it just resets back to save everything again.

I go to login to a site, my passwords are gone.

I add the password again, I sync, I go to login, the password is incorrect because it has synced with an old password on the other device.

I reset the password, I sync, I login to the other device and sync, it overwrites the new password with the old one.

HOW CAN THIS APP BE THAT BAD?
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Microsoft Autofill will never sync passwords

2 answers