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How do I prevent Firefox from updating ONE particular password?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 34 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hi

I have Firefox set to remember passwords. However, on one particular site, it has a username, password AND PIN field. Firefox keeps mixing up the password and PIN fields. I have manually saved the correct info for each field, but it insists that it wants to "update" the password (ie change it to the PIN value).

It's getting really annoying. How can I stop Firefox from asking me EVERY SINGLE TIME, whether I'd like to update the password!?! I want to keep the saved password, but with the details I already have saved.

Hi I have Firefox set to remember passwords. However, on one particular site, it has a username, password AND PIN field. Firefox keeps mixing up the password and PIN fields. I have manually saved the correct info for each field, but it insists that it wants to "update" the password (ie change it to the PIN value). It's getting really annoying. How can I stop Firefox from asking me EVERY SINGLE TIME, whether I'd like to update the password!?! I want to keep the saved password, but with the details I already have saved.

All Replies (5)

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The Password Manager is a bit complicated for this. It an be done, but you need to know what you are doing.

Use a Form Filling add-on. All you do is fill in the form, then have the add-on remember that page.


Open the Password Manager. In the search bar, type a few letters of the site. When the site shows up, right click and select Edit. As you can see, you can change the name of the fields that are used.

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"However, on one particular site, it has a username, password AND PIN field."

Is that all one one page or one 'box' for logging in? Or is it Username and Password on one page and Username and PIN on another?

Please provide a screenshot of what you are dealing with there. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

It is best to use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot and make sure that you do not exceed a maximum file size of 1 MB.
Then use the Browse .... button below the Post a Reply text box to upload the screenshot.

Also if you know how to View Page Source for that page, please extract the field names for those 3 pieces of data. If two of the fields are labeled as "password", that's the problem.

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Hi the-edmeister

Screenshot attached. You'll notice that there are three fields - Surname, Password and PIN. What is wants to do, is to save the four digit PIN, in the password field (I have manually saved the correct password).

So if I do choose to update, next time the password field will be populated with the PIN instead.

The page source data you asked for is:

<div class="formEntryArea">
Please enter your Surname:<input name="name" id="name" value="" size="20" maxlength="40"><span class="formLabelExample">
</span>
</div>

<div class="formEntryArea">
<label for="code">Student / Staff No:</label><input name="code" id="code" type="PASSWORD" value="" size="20" maxlength="40"><span class="formLabelExample">
Enter your complete staff / student number.</span>
</div>

<div class="formEntryArea">
<label for="pin"></label><input name="pin" id="pin" type="PASSWORD" value="" size="20" maxlength="40"><span class="formLabelExample">
Enter your PIN (for help see Library Home Page www.wits.ac.za/library)</span>
</div>

Thanks for your help

Modified by cor-el

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Based upon how those 3 fields are labeled, with two having a "type" of PASSWORD, it's no wonder you are having that problem with Firefox. My thoughts are that "your" website isn't set up correctly per "standards" - one of those two "password" fields probably should have a different "type" other than "password".

I know that Firefox is capable of saving that type of "two-step" verification for a number of years now, because the Sync service has something similar having a "username", a "password" and instead of a "PIN" it has a "Key". Sync saves the "username" twice, with two different "passwords" in the Password Manager. But the "domain" isn't on the web, it's an internal URI - so the implementation is probably a bit different.

Sorry, I don't have a solution for you. Have you contacted your 'uni' IT services office? Do you have any friends at school who you know use Firefox, to ask them if they are having the same problem? I wouldn't be surprised if one out every eight students at your school have had [or are "having"] the same issue.

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Type="password" is the only way to have the content obscured, so there is no alternative.

Firefox can get confused if there are two password fields as that can be the way to change an old password to a new password. I don't think that you can prevent Firefox from asking to store an updated password.