Firefox Asks for Unnecessary Master Password Upon Every Startup
Upon start up, Firefox unnecessarily asks for my master password every time. My home page (Google Finance) does not require a password. This occurs in safe mode as well. This is annoying and time wasting. I have to X-out the master password request window about 10 seconds after I start Firefox. Why does it do this? ... Firefox did not used to do this.
Chosen solution
Are you using Sync?
The Sync version used in Firefox 34 and later uses the password manager to store the name (e-mail) and password to be used to connect to the Sync server.
Previous Firefox versions stored this data in the signedInUser.json file in the profile folder, but the current version only stores the sessionToken in this file and needs the password manager for the password.
Read this answer in context 👍 10All Replies (8)
Hello,
Does firefox show multiple master password prompt? According to master password it does ask for master password once every session so that it can retrieve saved info protected by password.
you can check the add-on below.
But even this addon will ask for password once at startup (just once for that session).
For even more info read the content below:
Hope it helps.
The cited solutions involve either removing the Master Password, or using an add-on which requires an initial password. Neither is a true solution to the problem. If I remove the use of a Master Password and my machine were stolen, then the passwords would be accessible to a thief. So, I do want a Master Password. The question ... and problem ... is this: why does Firefox request a password upon startup when it does not yet need one? And, how can this be turned off? From my memory, it did not used to do that.
Chosen Solution
Are you using Sync?
The Sync version used in Firefox 34 and later uses the password manager to store the name (e-mail) and password to be used to connect to the Sync server.
Previous Firefox versions stored this data in the signedInUser.json file in the profile folder, but the current version only stores the sessionToken in this file and needs the password manager for the password.
Excellent analysis! Yes, I was using Sync. By turning off Sync, Firefox no longer asks for the password upon start up. Problem solved, however, I think this is an issue for a developer to follow up on. Now, I will only turn on Sync when I want to use it. New Question: how does Sync work? Does it store my data in the cloud somewhere? And, is it thus insecure?
The currently used new Sync version still use the Sync key to encrypt data locally before uploading, but this Sync key is generated internally from the password of your Firefox account, so you no longer need to worry about it. This means that the Sync key changes when you change the password of the Firefox account and you lose all data stored on the Sync server when doing that.
Thank you for the clear and detailed information.
I do not use sync and still have the problem. The window pops up numerous times while navigating the web, which it did not do previously, but I don't know which version it started in.
rockinjpranch,
Please start your own support thread here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new