Microsoft is killing off a major feature in its Authenticator app that the company is hoping will mean the end of passwords as you know them.
Authenticator, which has been downloaded by more than 75 million people, is a free mobile app that helps keep your online accounts secure and also helps fill out all your hard-to-remember passwords.
It acts like a digital bodyguard by adding an extra layer of protection when you sign in to your Microsoft account, work apps, or other services online.
Authenticator has also allowed its millions of users to save their various passwords for sites all over the internet in one app – but that’s about to come to a shocking end.
Microsoft has announced that Authenticator will no longer allow users to save new passwords in the app starting on June 1.
It’s part of a major three-stage shift away from the use of traditional passwords, which infamously include letters, phrases, numbers, or special characters, that users often forget frequently or are easily guessed by hackers.
In July, Microsoft will end Authenticator’s ability to automatically fill in your login details on pages you’ve saved your passwords for in the app.
Finally, starting in August 2025, Microsoft warned that ‘your saved passwords will no longer be accessible in Authenticator.’
Authenticator has also allowed its millions of users to save their various passwords for sites all over the internet in one app, but that will end on June 1
Microsoft said that the decision was made to streamline all of the tech giant’s autofill and password management operations, moving all of it to the company’s internet browser Edge.
For those fearing that their saved passwords will disappear forever this summer, Microsoft added that anyone using Authenticator will still have their passwords and addresses synced to their Microsoft account.
‘You can continue to access them and enjoy seamless autofill functionality with Microsoft Edge, a secure and user-friendly AI-powered web browser,’ the company explained in a statement.
The tech conglomerate’s web browser has its own cyber security features, including and anti-phishing and malware tool (Microsoft Defender SmartScreen), a password monitor, and a tool to block tracking cookies and wipe your search history (InPrivate search).
Despite Microsoft claiming that moving all Authenticator app data over to Edge will streamline the security and logging in process, many people are not happy about the change.
Several app users on social media accused Microsoft of forcing them to choose their web browser whether they like it or not.
‘Microsoft has decided to kill off its password manager in the Authenticator app, forcing everyone to use Edge instead. Because who needs choices and options when it comes to password management, right?’ one person on X wrote Monday.
‘So I should just get rid of Microsoft Authenticator app and never dare rely on another Microsoft product. Got it,’ another person added.
Meanwhile, other frustrated Authenticator users noted how often the app experiences glitches which can prevent them from verifying their identity.
‘Trying login to the Microsoft Authenticator app – but it’s asking me to enter the code in the Microsoft Authenticator app which I am trying to get into. Am I in an endless loop here forever?’ one person asked.
‘All I want in life is to never use Microsoft Authenticator again,’ another X user declared.
Microsoft warned that ‘your saved passwords will no longer be accessible in Authenticator’ by August 2025
As for what Microsoft will be using the app for now, the company’s envisioned end of passwords makes way for the widespread use of passkeys.
Passkeys are a passwordless, phishing-resistant technology that uses cryptographic keys stored on a user’s devices and are authenticated using biometrics – like a fingerprint, face scan, or a PIN number.
Microsoft has noted that the Authenticator app will continue to support passkeys for signing in once the last traces of traditional passwords are wiped off the app in August.
At the same time, Microsoft has become the latest tech giant to seemingly drive millions of customers away from Google’s Chrome web browser.
Microsoft’s Edge only holds about six percent of the web browser industry’s market share, supporting approximately 292 million internet users worldwide.
Conversely, Google Chrome dominates the internet market, reportedly boasting nearly 3.7 billion users and commanding 66 percent of the market share.
In April, Apple also attempted to pry away millions of Chrome customers, claiming that their browser Safari would protect customers from the third-party tracking cookies Google continues to allow.
These cookies let websites and advertisers track Chrome users’ online activity in order to show them personalized ads – and also creates a multi-billion-dollar revenue stream for Google.
Microsoft has also retired its Microsoft Autofill Chrome Extension in December, which allowed Authenticator app users to sync passwords with Google Chrome.
Microsoft has not explicitly stated whether the Authenticator app will sync passwords with browsers other than Edge after its password storage and autofill features are discontinued in August 2025.
