Alex Ruben
How to Disable Autofill in Google Chrome
In this guide, you will learn how to turn off the autofill feature in Google Chrome, which automatically fills in forms with your personal information such as email addresses, passwords, and other data. Disabling autofill can help protect your privacy, especially when using shared or public computers. By the end of this tutorial, you will have complete control over what information is stored and filled automatically in Chrome.
Before you begin, ensure you have Google Chrome installed on your computer and that you are familiar with navigating its interface. This guide applies to the latest version of Google Chrome as of October 2023.
Step 1: Access Google Chrome Settings
To begin, open Google Chrome on your computer. Look for the three vertical dots (menu icon) located at the top right corner of the browser window. Click on this icon to reveal a dropdown menu.
Step 2: Navigate to the Settings Menu
From the dropdown menu, scroll down and click on the Settings option located at the bottom. This will take you to the settings page where you can modify various browser preferences.
Step 3: Go to Autofill Settings
On the left sidebar of the settings page, locate and click on Autofill and passwords. This section will allow you to manage all autofill settings, including saved passwords, payment methods, and addresses.
Step 4: Manage Saved Passwords
First, click on the Google Password Manager link. This will direct you to a page displaying all your saved website passwords. You can review, edit, or delete these passwords as needed. To delete a password, click on the entry you wish to remove. You will then need to enter your computer’s password for security. After entering the password, click OK to proceed. Finally, select the Delete button to remove the password from Chrome.
Step 5: Disable Payment Method Autofill
Next, return to the autofill settings page and click on the Payment methods option. Here, you can manage whether your saved credit or debit cards will autofill on websites. To disable this feature, toggle the Save and fill payment methods switch to the Off position. Once this is done, Chrome will no longer autofill your payment information on online forms.
Step 6: Turn Off Address Autofill
Now, click on the Addresses and more option. This section allows you to control how Chrome autofills your addresses. You will see two toggle switches: one for phone numbers and email addresses, and another for information stored in your Google Account. Click on both sliders to turn them off, ensuring they are in the left position. This action will prevent Chrome from autofilling any address details in forms.
Final Step: Confirm Autofill is Disabled
After completing the above steps, autofill in Google Chrome will be turned off. This means that whenever you visit a website and fill out a form, your personal information will no longer be automatically populated, enhancing your privacy while browsing.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
When managing autofill settings, ensure that you periodically review saved passwords and payment methods to maintain security. If you encounter issues with autofill still appearing, double-check that the toggles are indeed set to the off position in the respective settings. Additionally, if you use multiple devices, remember to adjust these settings on each device to ensure uniformity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn autofill back on later?
Yes, you can easily re-enable autofill by following the same steps and toggling the switches back to the on position.
Will disabling autofill affect my saved passwords?
No, turning off autofill does not delete your saved passwords; it simply prevents them from being automatically filled in forms.
Is it safe to use autofill features?
While autofill features can be convenient, they may pose security risks if used on shared or public computers. It’s recommended to disable them in such environments.