How To Disable The Form Autofill in Your Windows, Mac, And Mobile Browser

admin October 20, 2020

24 5 minutes read

How To Disable The Form Autofill in Your Windows, Mac, And Mobile Browser When you fill forms online using a particular set of information over, and over; your browser automatically saves that information, and each time you try to fill out a form on a site, the browser automatically pops the preset information or automatically input it as required. This is called AUTO-FILL. The purpose of the auto-fill feature is to make things easier for you, so you don’t have to fill out the same information multiple times. This feature is brilliant but sometimes it helps a little too much. Auto-fill mostly happens when you are filing a billing form or you’re entering a password to a site or the likes. Often, the auto-fill information is filed in the wrong places and can lead to light issues that can easily be corrected if noticed early, or a major issue, if it leads to a ban being placed on your account.

If your auto-fill serves you satisfactorily, then this thread is not meant for you, but if it has frustrated your efforts and you wish to deactivate it, then keep reading. Below, I’ll share the required steps that will help you to disable or deactivate the auto-fill on your browser(s)

Disable The Form Autofill in Your Windows Broswer

Table of Contents

FireFox

To disable the auto-fill feature on this browser, it’s not rocket science.

Step 1. Move your mouse or cursor to the menu icon and select Options from the dropdown menu.

Step 2. Click on Privacy

Step 3. You will see where it’s written, Firefox will change the setting to Use custom settings for history.

Step 4. Uncheck the box that says Remember search and form history.

Step 5. Select OK, this will take you back to the main page of the browser.

Note that when you choose to disable the form history, your Firefox browser will no longer save the history of every search you initiate in the browser’s navigation toolbar from that moment forward

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is one of the oldest and efficient browser network used on the internet. To disable the auto-fill/auto-complete feature on this browser, please follow the steps outlined below.

Step 1. Open the homepage of internet explorer on your system.

Step 2. Click on Tools and then select Internet Options.

Step 3. In the options menu, click on the tab that reads Content

Step 4. Choose AutoComplete

Step 5. It will show you a variety of options. Read through them and check the options that you want to be effective on your system, the ones you do not want, please uncheck them and you are good to go.

A list of some of the options and what they mean.

Web page addresses – When this is active, it means that internet explorer automatically completes/updates every address you input in the search bar.
Forms – People tend to fill forms online on a daily basis, most sites require basic information like e-mail address(es,) residential address(es,) phone numbers etc The internet explorer automatically saves this information and they pop up whenever you’re about to fill a form that requires these fields. You can choose to retain or uncheck this option.
Usernames and passwords on forms – If you are a forgetful person and you don’t want to have to change your password every time you want to login to a site or page, this auto-complete option is helpful. However, the downside to it is the fact that anyone can access your information n and invade your privacy if they have access to your computer.

Chrome

In the chrome browser, the auto-fill works automatically as a default feature of the browser. The turn-off feature is the easiest of them all. To turn off this feature, practice the steps below.

Step 1. On the Chrome homepage, click on the menu, (It’s the three dots by the top right side of your browser toolbar.)

Step 2. Choose Settings

Step 3. Click on the section that reads Sync

Step 4. Then navigate and click on the slider that you see beside the Auto-fill. Once you do so, the feature is turned off.

Sometimes after you turn off the auto-fill feature on this browser, you may need to also deactivate third party extensions. An example is the Last pass. This third party extension continues to affect the auto-fill information, even after you shut it down manually. To take care of the third party extensions:

Step 1. Go to Settings in the Chrome Menu and choose Extensions

Step 2. Click on Details on the third-party password/autofill extension.

Step 3. Deactivate this and you’re home free.

Disable The Form Autofill in Your MAC

Safari

The autocomplete feature built into the Apple Safari browser allows the browser to “retain” every written information and addresses entered into any online form you fill using their browser network. This feature is fun and makes things faster and easier but if your information is vital and can be used for criminal activities that will impede your efforts, please do not activate the auto-fill feature or if it’s already active, deactivate it immediately for your own safety. This feature can be disabled through your Safari preferences.

Step 1. Open your Safari browser.

Step 2. Click on Safari in the program menu and when the dropdown menu appears, select Preferences.

Step 3. Choose the Autofill tab, it’s right there in the Preferences window.

Step 4. Click on every checkboxes that you find next to the autofill options. This will deselect them, and shut off the autocomplete for each option you deselect.

Firefox

Step 1. Open your Firefox browser.

Step 2. Move to the Preferences menu.

Step 3. Select Privacy.

Step 4. There in the dropdown, select Never Remember History.

Chrome

The same as with the browser, the Autofill is turned on by default on the Chrome browser. To turn it off, follow the steps outlined below.

Step 1. Choose Chrome menu (the three dots) located in the upper right-hand corner, of your browser toolbar.

Step 2. Choose Settings.

Step 3. You might see a dialog box with different mentions like Passwords, Addresses, and Payment Methods.

Step 4. Whichever one you click on, you will see a switch, it’s called a toggle switch. Click on it and turn off Auto Sign-in for Passwords. Afterwards you save the changes. Then go back and turn off the Auto Fill-in for Addresses and Payment Methods. Do not forget to save the changes.

Note: There’s a possibility that you might not see the dialog box. Don’t panic, just scroll down and then click on Advanced, afterwards, choose Settings, before you go on and click on Autofill settings. It’s under Passwords and forms. This will definitely take you to a dialog box for Passwords, Addresses, and Payment Methods.

Disable The Form Autofill in Your Mobile Phones

There are different categories/types of mobile phones. There’s an instruction manual for all types as listed below.

How to Disable Autofill in Safari on iPad

Step 1. Choose Settings.

Step 2. Tap on Safari.

Step 3. To turn off Names and Passwords, swipe/click on the menu option and it will go off.

How to disable autofill in Safari, on your iPod or iPhone

Step 1. Tap on Settings.

Step 2. Choose Safari.

Step 3. Select Autofill.

Step 4. Swipe/click on Names and Passwords.

How to disable autofill in your Chrome browser on an Android device

Step 1. Touch the three dots.

Step 2. Tap on Settings

Step 3. Select Save passwords

Step 4. Slide to turn off the Save passwords’ option

How to Remove Stored Passwords in Safari on Your iPod or iPhone

Step 1. Just touch Settings.

Step 2. Tap Safari.

Step 3. Choose Passwords.

Step 4. There’s a link for Edit, it’s located at the top right of your phone. You can go through that method or you can choose to swipe left on any password that you’d like to remove, once you swipe at it, it’s permanently deleted.