Microsoft Authenticator gaining ‘password manager’ that syncs to Edge for iOS, Android
Coming soon, you’ll be able to sync all your desktop Edge passwords to your iPhone or Android device using Authenticator.
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What you need to know
MicrosoftAuthenticatoris a free and essential app used for two-factor authentication (2FA) with code generation and on-device notifications. The app is available on iOS and Android, geared towards consumers and enterprise with some excellent features like cloud-backup, app security lock, limited screen captures, and more.
Interestingly, the app also now appears to be gaining the ability to sync – and manage – your passwords from the Edge browser, including autofill ability.
The new feature is in early testing in the beta apps for iOS and Android (A/B testing). It was initiallyspotted in early November, but now seems to be rolling out to more users.
The concept is simple. If you use Microsoft Edge browser on your desktop, laptop, or phone, and you choose to save your passwords to it, those passwords can now populate in Authenticator (with your permission).
Currently, on Edge for PC, users can manage their passwords through Settings > Profiles > Passwords, including security notifications if your password has been leaked. But there is no separate app to do so, unlike services like Enpass, 1Password, or LastPass.
The feature is a creative expansion of Microsoft’s continued push to offer seamless feature parity between iOS, Android, and PC. It also makes switching away from paid services for password managers that much easier. The ability to enable auto-fill, where Authenticator will populate your login information to your mobile browser, is especially useful.
No word on when this feature will roll out to the public, but it’s clear that between Authenticator’s password sync and Edge’s ability to sync open tab history that Microsoft is flipping the switch on cloud syncing. It’s been a long time waiting, but it seems to be worth it.
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You can read more about Authenticator fromMicrosoft’s dedicated page. And you can learn more about all Microsoft’siOS and Android beta apps in our guide.
This app makes it easy to set up two-factor authentification that works with a fingerprint, face ID, or PIN.
Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer,podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.
