can't reset master password
Hi, i noticed that other people have had this problem and i cannot find a solution. I put a master password on firefox for fun but I find it's annoying so i went to remove it only to find that the "remove" button does nothing, and when i put in the wrong password it doesn't even let me click "remove". So i tried changing the password. It gives me this error, "Password Change Failed / Unable to change Master Password". So if you can't give me a solution i will have to take screenshots or write down all my passwords which sucks. or i'll have to reset firefox and lose them all. Please help.
All Replies (9)
Hi, unfortunately you are going to have to decide what you are going to do as Support can not help you with the decision to make. Support has no magical entry way or a record of your password.
That is unfortunate, maybe mozilla should look into it because it's quite a miserable error.
If I understand correctly, you know the master password and it works, but the remove function is not working. Hmm... that's bad.
Could you try it in Firefox's Safe Mode? In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features so maybe that would help.
If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)
If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart.
Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Then try the removal again. Any improvement?
If that doesn't work:
How long ago did you add the master password? Maybe we can help you dig up an earlier copy of the logins.json file from before that point.
If you think so please go to the 3 Bar Menu --> Help --> Submit Feedback which will be reviewed by a team for inclusion in future releases.
There is nothing Volunteer Support can help with that matter.
I had started it in safe mode to no avail. Thank you jscher2000 but i already took screenshots of my passwords and reinstalled firefox, or else i would have gladly followed any advice to solve the problem or at least give feedback to mozilla support.
Usually an uninstall/reinstall cycle doesn't remove any data files, so I'm not sure how that helped, but it sounds as though the problem is solved now?
After replacing the key3.db and login.(cant remember extension) it made the master password reappear and removing or changing was impossible once more. So I deleted my profile, imported bookmarks, and manually entered passwords from screenshots. So yes, in a way i have found a solution, albeit an uncomfortable one.
Note that current Firefox releases no longer use key3.db (DBM) for the key file, but use key4.db (SQL).
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