Chrome v127 Users Report Missing Passwords, Issue Identified and Fix Rolling Out
Update 26/07/24: Google has identified the issue causing missing passwords in Chrome v127 and is rolling out a fix. Users are recommended to restart their browsers to apply the update.
Update 25/07/24: Google has paused the rollout of Chrome v127 to address the missing passwords issue.
Google Chrome v127, released on July 23rd, has caused some users to experience missing passwords in their Google Password Manager. The issue seems to primarily affect desktop versions of Chrome on both Windows and Mac.
The Problem:
After updating to v127, users found that saved passwords were no longer auto-filling or accessible within the Password Manager.
What Google Says:
- The issue stems from Chrome's password encryption system. Sometimes, the encryption key changes, rendering some passwords "undecryptable."
- Chrome has a mechanism to remove these undecryptable passwords to prevent clutter and potential issues.
- This cleanup process, likely triggered by the update, may be the cause of the missing passwords.
Approach with Care: Provisional Solution:
Some Windows users have found a temporary fix by renaming or deleting the "Login Data" file located in: AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
Recommendations:
- If you haven't updated to Chrome v127 yet, it might be wise to hold off until the fix is fully rolled out.
- If you are experiencing this issue, restarting your browser may apply the fix.
- The temporary workaround involves modifying sensitive data, so proceed with extreme caution if you choose to try it.
This is not the first time Chrome users have encountered disappearing passwords, but Google is actively addressing the situation.
