How to Disable Export Saved Passwords in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge provides a password manager that allows users to save and export passwords for convenience. While this feature is useful for individuals, it can pose a security risk in shared or organizational environments. To enhance data protection, administrators may wish to disable the ability to export saved passwords. This can be achieved through the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor in Windows. Below are step-by-step instructions for each method.

Method 1: Using Local Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy Editor provides a graphical interface for configuring system and application-level policies. This method is only available on Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
Before you start, you should download and install the Group Policy Administrative Templates (ADMX/ADML) for Microsoft Edge, the steps for which can be found in this article.

Step 1. Open Local Group Policy Editor

To begin, press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. This will launch the Local Group Policy Editor, where system-wide administrative settings can be configured.

Step 2. Navigate to Password Manager and Protection

In the Group Policy Editor, go to the following path: 

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Classic Administrative Templates (ADM) > Microsoft Edge > Password manager and protection

Step 3. Disable Password Export

• Find and double-click on the Enable exporting saved passwords from Password Manager. 

• In the dialog box, select the Disabled option to disable the password export feature. 

• Click Apply, then OK to save and enforce the changes.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor

If you're running Windows Home edition, you may not open the Group Policy, but you can modify the system registry to achieve the same result.

Step 1. Open Registry Editor

To access the Registry Editor, press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to proceed.

Step 2. Navigate to the Edge Key

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

If the Edge key does not already exist under the Microsoft folder, you’ll need to create it. To do this, right-click the Microsoft folder, choose New > Key, and name it Edge. This key is used by Windows to apply administrative policies to Microsoft Edge.

Step 3. Create the Password Export Policy Value

• Right-click on the Edge key and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this new value PasswordExportEnabled.

• Once created, double-click it and set its value to 0, which disables the password export functionality.

• Close the Registry Editor and restart Microsoft Edge to apply the change.

Conclusion

Whether you use the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor, both methods can effectively disable the export of saved passwords in Microsoft Edge. This can help mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access or data exfiltration in managed environments.