There are over 3.2 billion Chrome users as of a 2021 Statista.com report. A big portion saves their passwords in the browser for ease of access. However, the inability to access your accounts on various internet platforms because you lost your Chrome saved passwords and data is one of the most common fears. If you’ve forgotten or misplaced passwords for your job-related websites, this may put you in a lot of trouble. Luckily, you shouldn’t worry, because methods for recovering Google Chrome passwords on Windows and Mac PCs exist. This guide can be a lifesaver for many Google Chrome users, so read it carefully.
There’s no doubt that Google Chrome’s password-saving feature is extremely useful in our daily lives. However, fully depending on this function can put you in peril; for example, what if you lose your passwords from your Chrome browser? You may be unable to access many of your online accounts since you don’t know the login details or the corresponding passwords. The answer is to retrieve your lost passwords from your Chrome browser somehow. Here’s how you can do it.
Recover Chrome Passwords Using Reset Sync
Let’s get started with the process for both Windows and Mac computers. This process requires you to have at least one additional Chrome-enabled device and access your Gmail account from another device. This can be a Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android smartphone. Another condition that must be met is that the computer should neither be opened nor booted up with the Google Chrome browser open. If both requirements are satisfied, you may continue.
Method 1: Clearing Synced Data
We need to delete the Chrome passwords and clear data from your main device. To do so:
- Click your Google account icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Sync & Google services.
- Select Review your synced data.
- Click on Clear data on PC.
This will delete all your Chrome settings and passwords from their servers. It will also log you out of all the devices you were logged in with that Google account. The data that won’t be cleared includes Chrome saved data on your other devices. You may use the offline stored data on your other device to sync it with your Google account afterward, including any forgotten passwords.
You might be wondering how to resync on a different device when your previous passwords have been erased. This is because, after the situation in which you lost or deleted your passwords, the deleted passwords, as well as the rest of your Chrome data, will still be preserved. They will be stored offline on that device, allowing you to use it as a backup to resync that information on the Google server. Continue reading to find out how.
Sign In and Enable Sync from Another Device
Now, use the same Google account on a different device to sign back into your Google account and turn on syncing. After a brief period, you can use the method above to see if it was uploaded under “Review your synced data”. Now:
- Go to the device where you haven’t used Google Chrome since deleting your passwords. You’re likely to be logged out of your Google account automatically if you do this on a PC or laptop computer.
- Sign in with the same Google account and enable syncing on this device.
After you’ve logged in and sync has been switched on, Google will begin synchronizing Chrome’s offline files stored on your second device. This will also include any previously deleted passwords and the rest of the data. You can view all your lost passwords again after the synchronization is completed.
Method 2: Using Exports Passwords Option
Google offers a CSV file (spreadsheet file) option to save passwords. After you use it, you’ll have to enter your usernames and password on each website manually. This method of lost Chrome password recovery also demands you have a secondary device with that uses the same Google account as the one where you deleted the passwords for Chrome. Also, double-check that you were using Chrome on your separate device with the same Google account as the one where you misplaced your passwords for Chrome.
1. Turn the Internet Off
In this approach, you don’t need to do anything with the device where you’ve forgotten your passwords. Instead, go over to your alternate device running Chrome with the same Google account and deactivate its access to the internet. Ensure there is no internet connectivity by putting the gadget on Airplane mode if it’s a mobile.
2. Open Chrome and Go to Saved Passwords
When the internet connection on your alternate device is completely disabled, open Google Chrome. If you’re using a PC, open the three-dot menu, then go to Settings > Autofill > Passwords. You’ll see all of your previously stored passwords. You may also view any passwords you’ve removed or forgotten about for some reason. To access your stored passwords on smartphones, go to Chrome’s Settings > Passwords.
3. Download the List of Passwords
Type the e-mail and password combination into the boxes provided. Then, Save As to save this list of passwords as a CSV file (Spreadsheet file). Go to the top right corner of the saved passwords area and choose Export Passwords. Once you’ve selected that option, enter your computer’s admin account’s password to begin downloading. You may manually enter the passwords for your various internet accounts using this file or import them into a password manager.
