How to Use LastPass Autofill 

Remembering passwords is a pain, but so is typing them. Every time you need to log in to an account, you need to (correctly!) enter your username and password. Typing passwords is a repetitive, error-prone time waster. So is filling out your address, payment cards, and other personal details for every online order and signup form.  That's why you should autofill your passwords with a password manager. Autofilling gives you speed, accuracy, and improved security. Here's what you need to know about how to use autofill with a password manager like LastPass.

What is autofill?

Autofill is shorthand for "automatically filling." In the case of a password manager, you're automatically filling in empty fields, like those for username and password, when you're logging in to a web service or app. Once you sign up for LastPass and get your account set up, the password manager prompts you to save logins. LastPass then stores those usernames and passwords in your vault. When you return to that website, LastPass recognizes that you have a login stored for that URL. LastPass then automatically fills the login fields with your information, and you can click to log in. By storing and filling your logins for you, LastPass saves you time and eliminates typos. LastPass also takes the stress out of using long, complicated passwords. It's much easier to create 20-character passwords filled with random symbols and letters if you never have to worry about remembering, typing, or even looking at them! LastPass autofill puts passwords - and password security - on autopilot.

How to use LastPass autofill on desktop

The browser extension is the key to autofill on any desktop or laptop browser. So always download LastPass to your browser. The browser extension allows LastPass to "see" what page you're on and help you with any fields on that page. If you've stored one or more logins for that webpage, LastPass will autofill for you. Filling credentials, completing a signup form, making a purchase, creating a new password - LastPass can detect them all and offer the right action at the right time. As you sign in, LastPass fills your username and password. As you sign up, LastPass fills your name, address, birthdate, and other requested details. As you make a purchase, LastPass enters your payment card information and billing/shipping addresses. As you create a new password, LastPass offers the password generator and stores the new password. If you have more than one login or payment card to choose from, click the LastPass in-field icon to scroll and find the information you want to use. Clicking the entry you need tells LastPass to autofill that information. A task that would typically take seconds or minutes is reduced to a click to autofill the correct information at the right time. By downloading the LastPass extension to all browsers on all desktops/laptops you regularly use, you can sync all data stored in your account and autofill everywhere you browse.

How to use LastPass autofill with the mobile app

Again, always download the LastPass app to your smartphone(s) and tablet(s). Logging in on the mobile app syncs all the data you stored in LastPass so you can look up and autofill the same data everywhere. Of course, Android and iOS are different operating systems with distinct looks and functionality, so the LastPass experience can also differ slightly between the two platforms. For example, LastPass offers extensions for the mobile Safari and Chrome browsers that autofills stored credentials. In addition, on iOS, LastPass integrates with Password AutoFill, allowing LastPass to replace Keychain as the password manager of choice and autofill credentials. On Android, you can also enable LastPass to autofill websites and apps. 

Autofill best practices

Autofilling is a core functionality of LastPass. With autofill, you can enjoy the full benefits of LastPass and maximize your security with a password manager. A few simple steps will ensure that LastPass can save you time, decrease frustration, and improve your digital security. Download LastPass to all devices. The browser extensions and mobile apps offer the best experience with LastPass. Visit the official app stores to download LastPass and log in with the same account on all devices to automatically sync and autofill stored data. Remove saved passwords and turn off browser autofill. Not only can browser autofill conflict with your password manager, but it can also present security concerns. Delete any saved passwords in the browser and enter them into your password manager before completely disabling browser autofill. Store all passwords, payment cards, addresses, etc. With LastPass downloaded and your account created, you'll soon save many passwords and generate new ones. The more you store for LastPass to protect, the more data it can safely fill for you. You should save anything you find yourself typing over and over to your vault. Know how to spot phishing with LastPass. LastPass looks for specific information when determining whether to fill a field, including if the URL is a match. A phishing attempt may lure you to a similar-looking URL, but LastPass will see that it's not the correct URL and won't autofill. Always check URLs, especially if LastPass won't autofill for you. Store updated passwords in your vault. If you need to replace an old password with a new one, be sure to save the change to LastPass, too. When LastPass detects a password change, it will prompt you to replace the password stored in your vault. Then, LastPass will have the new, correct password to autofill when you return to the website. Learn more about the benefits of autofill and get started with LastPass.