How to use Microsoft Authenticator as your password manager

I use a password manager on my PC and mobile devices. 

For me, it's still the best way, and really the only way for now, to juggle all the unique and complex passwords for my online accounts. 

I'd advise anyone with a large number of accounts to adopt a password manager for the same purpose. 

But if you don't have a dedicated password manager and you already use Microsoft Authenticator for two-factor authentication, you can enlist that app for password management.

Also: You're definitely not making the most of your password manager 

Microsoft Authenticator can generate, store, and apply passwords at websites via an autofill feature. Beyond supporting iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, the autofill option works in the desktop flavors of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge via an extension.

How to use Microsoft Authenticator as your password manager

Import passwords from a password manager

If you already used a dedicated password manager, such as Apple Keychain, 1Password, Dashlane, Bitwarden, LastPass, or RoboForm, you can add those passwords into Authenticator. To do this, you'll have to export the passwords as a CSV file and then import them into Authenticator. In Authenticator, go to Settings and tap the option for Import Passwords. Tap the button for Import from Password Managers. At the next screen, choose the password manager you use and then follow the steps for exporting your passwords.

Whether you export the passwords on your mobile device or PC, you'll need to make the CSV file available for your device, which you can do by copying it to a backup and sharing service, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud.

Also: Break up with LastPass: How to use iCloud as a password manager on Windows

In the Microsoft Authenticator app, tap the notice asking if you have passwords saved in other apps or go to Settings and select the setting for Import from Password Managers. Choose your password manager. Navigate to the location and folder where you saved the CSV file and select it. Your imported passwords then appear.

Manually add a password

Of course, you can also manually add a new account to the app. At the Passwords screen, tap the + sign to add a password. Then type the URL, username, and password for the website account you want to add. When done, tap Save.

Generate a password

Microsoft Authenticator can create a password for a new account or an existing account. In the iPhone app, tap the three-dot icon and select Password Generator. In the Android version, tap the + icon and select Generate password. Tap the link for Customize Password to set the complexity and length for the password, opting to include or exclude letters, numbers, and special characters. Tap the refresh icon to generate a different password. When done, tap the button for Copy Password to paste it elsewhere. Otherwise, tap the disk icon to use the password in a new account that you want to add to the app.

Use Autofill

The Authenticator app will automatically fill in your username and password for saved online accounts. But first, you need to enable the feature. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Passwords > Password Options. Turn on the switch for AutoFill Passwords and select Authenticator to make it the default autofill app. Also, uncheck any other apps in the autofill list. On an Android phone, go to Settings in the Authenticator app. Turn on the switches for Set as autofill provider and AutoFill on more apps and sites.

On an iPhone, autofill from third-party apps, such as Microsoft Authenticator, works only with Safari. But you can also use it with any app that needs a login. Open Safari and browse to one of the websites or open one of the apps for which your credentials are stored in the Authenticator app. Tap the field for username. In some cases, a button for Authenticator will display your correct name. If so, tap that button. Tap the field for password and then tap the button for your account name.

In other cases, a key icon appears just above the keyboard. Tap that icon, and the Authenticator app displays the account. Select your account name in the app. 

Also: Passwords still dominate, and are causing headaches for everyone

The fields for username and password are then populated. Tap the Sign in button, and you're logged into the site or app.

On an Android phone, the autofill process is similar to that on an iPhone. Open your preferred browser or open a specific app. Tap the username field, and the account name from the Authenticator app will appear above or below the field. Tap that name. For the password field, the account name appears above the keyboard. Tap that name and then sign into the Authenticator app. The username and password fields should both be populated, allowing you to sign in to the site or app.

Use Edge and Chrome on the desktop

Finally, you can use the Microsoft Authenticator autofill feature in the desktop versions of Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome via an extension. 

Also: Microsoft Edge adds a new security layer for browsing 'unfamiliar' sites

In Chrome or Edge, go to the Chrome web store link for Microsoft AutoFill and add the extension to the browser. Browse to a site for which the account is saved in Authenticator. Click the username field, and your account name should appear below it. Click the name, and Authenticator will sign you in to the site.