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Are You Facing a Frustrating Dead End with an Unrecognized Primary Password in Edge?
A problem with the password manager in the Microsoft Edge browser has been reported. A user has stated that logins were failing, while an older version of Edge worked without any problems. This can be a frustrating experience, especially when you rely on the password manager for your daily online activities.
The Microsoft Edge browser has a built-in feature that can save your login credentials, such as usernames and passwords, for different websites. This feature is designed to make logging in easier and faster by automatically filling in your details when you visit a saved site. You can manage these saved passwords within the Edge settings. For added security, you can set up a primary password, also known as a master password, that you must enter before Edge will autofill any passwords.
The Mysterious Case of the Forgotten Password
A user reported a curious issue on November 3, 2025. For two years, this user had been using Microsoft Edge on Windows Server 2019 without any problems. The browser was set up to use the local password manager, meaning the passwords were not synced with a Microsoft account, and a primary password was enabled for security.
The problem started on the morning of November 3, 2025, when the user tried to log in to a website. Edge requested the primary password as usual, but then rejected it, showing an “Authentication failed. Please try again.” error message. The user was certain the password was correct.
A Temporary Fix and a Recurring Problem
To solve the issue, the user restored the Windows Server 2019 from a backup made a week earlier. After the restore, the Edge password manager started working correctly again. However, the problem reappeared after the lunch break on the same day. This suggests that the Edge browser might have updated itself automatically in the background, reintroducing the bug. The user suspects that a recent Edge update, possibly version 142.0.3595.53, which included an “improved” autofill function, could be the cause.
What to Do If You Face a Similar Issue
If you are experiencing a similar problem with the Microsoft Edge password manager, here are some steps you can take:
- Check for Updates: Ensure your Edge browser is updated to the latest version, as a more recent update might contain a fix for this bug.
- Report the Issue: Use the “Send feedback” feature in Edge to report the problem to Microsoft. Providing diagnostic data can help the engineers identify the cause of the issue.
- Export Your Passwords: If you can still access your passwords, it is a good idea to export them to a file as a backup. You can do this by going to edge://settings/passwords.
- Reset Your Profile: As a last resort, you might need to delete your Edge profile and start over. Be aware that this will erase all your locally saved passwords and data, so only do this if you have a backup or if your data is synced with a Microsoft account.
- Check for Previous Versions of Your Login Data: Some users have had success by restoring a previous version of the “Login Data” file located in the Edge user data folder. This might be an option if you have file history or another backup system enabled on your computer.