Where autofill lives and why you might want to turn it off

Autofill is a feature that remembers information you type — passwords, addresses, credit card numbers, names — and offers to fill it in automatically the next time you see a similar field. It lives in three places: your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge), your device's operating system (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android), and individual apps.

You might want to disable it for privacy reasons, because you share a device with other people, or because the suggestions it offers are wrong or outdated. Turning it off is straightforward, but the steps differ depending on where the autofill is stored and what device you're using.

Key Takeaways

  • Autofill can be disabled separately in your browser, your operating system, and individual apps — turning it off in one place does not turn it off everywhere.
  • Browser autofill (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) is controlled through each browser's settings, usually under "Passwords" or "Autofill".
  • Device-level autofill on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android requires different steps for each operating system.
  • Disabling autofill on a shared device protects your information from other users, but you will need to type passwords and addresses manually each time.

Disable autofill in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Autofill and passwords in the left sidebar. You will see sections for "Passwords", "Payment methods", and "Addresses and more".

To turn off password autofill, click Passwords, then toggle off Offer to save passwords. To disable address and payment autofill, click Addresses and more, then toggle off Save and fill addresses and Save and fill payment methods. You can also delete saved information by clicking each section and selecting the entries you want to remove.

Disable autofill in Safari

On a Mac, open Safari and click Safari in the top menu, then Settings. Click the Autofill tab. Uncheck the boxes next to Using saved information, Credit cards, and User names and passwords. Click the X next to any saved information you want to delete.

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Autofill. Toggle off Saved Passwords, Credit Cards, and Contact Info. To delete saved passwords, go to Settings > Passwords, tap Password Options, and select the entries you want to remove.

Disable autofill in Firefox and Edge

In Firefox, click the three horizontal lines in the top right, select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll to "Logins and Passwords" and uncheck Ask to save logins and passwords for websites. Scroll further to "Forms and Autofill" and uncheck Address and Credit cards.

In Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top right, select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Scroll to "Clear browsing data" and toggle off Offer to save passwords, Save payment info, and Save addresses. You can delete saved information by clicking Manage passwords or Manage payment info.

Disable autofill on Windows

Windows stores autofill information through its built-in password manager and address book. Open Settings and click Accounts on the left sidebar. Click Sign-in options, then scroll down to "Password policy". There is no single toggle to disable Windows autofill globally, but you can delete saved passwords by clicking Manage my Microsoft account and removing entries from your password list.

For individual apps and programs, autofill is usually controlled within each app's settings. Check the app's preferences or settings menu for options labeled "Autofill", "Remember passwords", or "Save information".

Disable autofill on macOS, iOS, and Android

On a Mac, open System Settings and click General on the left. Click Passwords, then Password Options. Uncheck AutoFill passwords and passkeys. You can also delete saved passwords by selecting them and clicking the minus button.

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Passwords > Password Options and toggle off AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys. On Android, open Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Security. Scroll to "Your devices" and click Manage all devices. Select your device and toggle off Password Manager. You can also delete saved passwords by opening Settings > Apps and clearing the cache for Google Play Services.

What happens after you disable autofill

Once autofill is off, websites and apps will no longer suggest saved passwords, addresses, or payment information when you click on a form field. You will need to type this information manually each time, or copy and paste it from a password manager or notes app if you have one.

Disabling autofill does not delete the information that is already saved — it only stops the browser or device from offering to fill it in. If you want to remove saved passwords, addresses, or payment methods entirely, you must delete them separately through the steps above. Some information may also be synced across your devices if you use a Google account, Apple ID, or Microsoft account, so disabling autofill on one device may not remove it from others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling autofill delete my saved passwords?

No. Disabling autofill only stops the browser or device from offering to fill in saved information. Your passwords, addresses, and payment methods remain stored until you delete them manually. To remove them, go to the password or autofill settings and delete each entry you no longer want.

Can I disable autofill for passwords but keep it for addresses?

Yes. Most browsers and devices let you control each type of autofill separately. In Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, you can toggle password autofill off while leaving address and payment autofill on, or vice versa. Check the autofill settings for each browser to customize which types you want to disable.

If I disable autofill on my phone, will it also turn off on my computer?

No. Autofill settings are separate on each device. If you use the same browser account (like a Google account in Chrome or an Apple ID in Safari) across multiple devices, some information may sync, but the autofill setting itself does not. You must disable autofill on each device individually.

What if a website keeps asking me to save my password even after I disabled autofill?

Some websites have their own autofill or password-saving features that are separate from your browser. If a site keeps prompting you, look for a "Never save passwords for this site" option in the prompt itself, or check the website's account settings for privacy or security options that control password saving.