Mozilla will officially drop support for its Firefox Lockwise password manager on Dec. 13.
Firefox Lockwise debuted in 2019 as a way for iOS and Android users to create, manage, and sync passwords across devices. Unlike other password managers, which are mostly browser-agnostic, Firefox Lockwise was specifically designed for use with its namesake web browser.
On Dec. 13, the standalone apps will be deprecated in favor of Firefox's built-in password management tools. "You will no longer be able to install or reinstall Firefox Lockwise from the App Store or Google Play Store," Mozilla says in a support article. "iOS version 1.8.1 and Android version 4.0.3 will be the last releases for Firefox Lockwise. The application may continue to work on your device, but it will no longer receive support or security updates."
Firefox Lockwise users won't lose access to their passwords after the app is shut down, however, with Mozilla saying that Firefox's desktop and mobile browsers will continue to host that vital data. All users have to do is sync their passwords using a Firefox Account.
The company notes that Firefox for iOS will only allow saved passwords to be used within the app, but it encourages users to "check back for updates in December 2021 on how to use Firefox for iOS as your system-wide password manager," so that should change fairly soon.
Mozilla didn't say why it decided to stop supporting Firefox Lockwise, nor did it immediately respond to a request for comment, but we'll update this post if the company responds. In the meantime, users have until Dec. 13 to start looking for alternative password managers.