Avast Passwords is a password manager that securely stores your login details and other sensitive data, making it easier for you to quickly log in to websites and fill in web forms. This article assumes that Avast Passwords is already installed on your Mac. For detailed installation instructions, refer to the following article:
If you want to use Avast Passwords on Windows PC or mobile devices, refer to the following articles:
Initial setup
To start using Avast Passwords, you first need to create a Master Password and install the Avast Passwords browser extension:
- Open Avast Passwords and click Start now!.
- Create a Master Password by typing it into the two text boxes. Tick the circle to acknowledge that Avast is unable to restore or reset your Master Password if you forget it. Click Confirm password.
- Click Install on Safari to install the Avast Passwords browser extension.
Alternatively, click Skip this step. You can install or reinstall browser extensions later by going to the Preferences menu. - Tick the box next to Avast Passwords in the Safari Extensions window.
- Return to the Avast Passwords setup tutorial and optionally select one of the password manager icons to import your existing accounts and login data.
Alternatively, click Skip this step. You can import your data later by going to the Preferences menu. - Follow the on-screen instructions to import your data.
Manage accounts
If you have installed the Avast Passwords browser extension, each time you log in to a new online account the Avast Passwords extension recognizes the new login attempt and offers to save the account details to Avast Passwords. Alternatively, you can manually add the details of online accounts into Avast Passwords by following the steps below:
Add an account
- Click the key icon in the left panel, then click Add +.
- Enter the following details:
- Service name: A name that will allow you to easily find and recognize your account.
- URL: The website address of the account, for example, https://www.example.com.
- Username: The username (often an email address) that you use to log in to the account.
- Password: The password that you currently use to log in to the account.
- Note: Any information related to this account.
- Click Save changes.
A tile representing your newly added account details appears on the Logins screen.
Edit or delete an account
- Click an account tile to view the its details.
- Select one of the following options:
- Edit an account: Click Edit, modify the existing account details, then click Save changes.
- Delete an account: Click Delete to completely remove the account.
Manage cards
The Credit Cards section allows you to securely store your credit card details for faster online shopping. All credit card details are encrypted and protected by your Master Password to ensure maximum security.
Add a card
- Click the credit card icon in the left panel, then click Add +.
- Enter the following details:
- Card name: A name that will help you recognize this card.
- Card number: Your card number.
- Cardholder name: Your name as it is printed on your card.
- Expiration: The expiration date of your card.
- CVC Code: The 3 or 4 digit security number that is visible on the signature panel on the back of the card.
- Click Save changes.
A tile representing your newly added card appears on the Credit Cards screen.
Edit or delete a card
- Click a card tile to view its details.
- Select one of the following options:
- Edit a card: Click Edit, modify the existing card details, then click Save changes.
- Delete a card: Click Delete to completely remove the card.
Manage notes
The Secure Notes section is a place where you can safely store sensitive data in Avast Passwords. This feature protects your confidential information from unauthorized access.
Add a note
- Click the note icon in the left panel, then click Add +.
- Provide the following details:
- Title: A title that will allow you to easily find and recognize your note.
- Text: Any data that you want to keep secure, such as PINs and contact details.
- Click Save changes.
A tile representing your newly added note appears on the Secure Notes screen.
Edit or delete a note
- Click a note tile to view its details.
- Select one of the following options:
- Edit a note: Click Edit, modify the existing note, then click Save changes.
- Delete a note: Click Delete to completely remove the note.
Generate passwords
The Password Generator creates strong passwords that you can use when setting up new online accounts.
- Click the password generator icon in the left panel.
- Set your parameters for a password:
- Click and drag the slider to adjust the length of your password.
- Tick or untick each character option to include or exclude these characters in your password.
- Click Copy to clipboard if you want to be able to paste the password into another location.
Password Guardian
Password Guardian is a paid feature of Avast Passwords. It monitors the internet and notifies you if it finds that any of your passwords have been leaked online.
Click the password guardian icon in the left panel to view a summary of your leaked passwords, duplicate passwords, and weak passwords.
For instructions to activate the paid version of Avast Passwords, refer to the following article:
Use the browser extension
After installing the Avast Passwords browser extension, a key icon is visible in your browser toolbar.
When you open a website, click the key icon to access the following options:
- Account details: An account tile appears at the top of the Avast Passwords panel if you have login details stored in Avast Passwords for the website you are currently on. Hover your cursor over this tile, then click Details to view your username and password. Click the eye icon to view your password.
- Auto-fill: Tick to enable Avast Passwords to automatically fill in your login details based on the accounts that are stored in your Avast Passwords vault.
- Auto-save: Tick to enable Avast Passwords to automatically save your account details for this website if they are not already stored in your Avast Passwords vault.
- Random password generator: Click Generate to create a secure password that you can copy and paste.
- Lock Avast Passwords: Locks your passwords vault.
- Open the app: Opens the Avast Passwords application.
When you open a website that already has account details stored in Avast Passwords, the key icon is visible next to your username. If you have more than one account linked to the same website, click the key icon next to your username to switch between accounts.
Import passwords
If you want to import your passwords from other browsers or password managers, and you skipped this step in the initial configuration, then follow these steps:
- Open Avast Passwords and ensure the application window is active.
- Click Avast Passwords in the top-left of your menu bar and select Preferences.
- Select the Import tab, then click a browser or another password manager icon to start importing your data.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the import.
You can also import your data using a JSON file by following the steps below:
- Click Avast Passwords in the top-left of your menu bar and select Import / Export ▸ Import from JSON....
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the import.
Set up synchronization and backup
To make accessing your online accounts easier, you can synchronize the data stored in Avast Passwords across all of your devices using your Avast Account. For more information, refer to the following article:
Adjust Passwords settings
To manage your Avast Passwords settings:
- Click Avast Passwords in the top-left of your menu bar, and select Preferences.
- Select a tab from the menu panel to configure the following settings:
- Security: Change your Master Password or application lock settings.
- Browser: Install the Avast Passwords browser extension in your internet browsers.
- Sync & Backup: Synchronize the data stored in Avast Passwords across all of your devices.
- General: Manage application behavior.
- Import: Import your login details from your browsers and other password managers.
- Activate: Upgrade to Avast Passwords Premium.
- Avast Passwords 2.x
- Avast Premium Security 14.x for Mac
- Avast Security 14.x for Mac
- Apple macOS 12.x (Monterey)
- Apple macOS 11.x (Big Sur)
- Apple macOS 10.15.x (Catalina)
- Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
- Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra)
- Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)
- Apple Mac OS X 10.11.x (El Capitan)
Updated on: 12/20/24