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I use a password manager on my PCandmobile devices. 

For me,it's still the best way,and really the only way for now,to juggle all the unique and complex passwords for my online accounts. 

I'd advise anyone with a large number of accounts to adopt a password manager for the same purpose. 

Also: How to protect and secure your password manager

But if you don't have a dedicated password manager and you already use Microsoft Authenticator for two-factor authentication, you can enlist that app for password management.

Microsoft Authenticator can generate, store, and apply passwords at websites via an autofill feature. Beyond supporting iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, the autofill option works in the desktop flavors of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge via an extension.

How to use Microsoft Authenticator as your password manager

1. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app

If you need to download Microsoft Authenticator on your mobile device, grab it for iOS, iPadOS, or Android. Open the app and tap the Passwords icon on the bottom toolbar. Tap the button at the bottom to sync with your account.

Sign in with your account.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

2. Import passwords from Chrome

The next screen prompts you to import your passwords, giving you the option of importing from a password manager or importing from Google Chrome. Let's try the Chrome option first.

Also: Windows 11 now warns you if you do foolish things with your password

Tap the button for Import Directly from Google Chrome. The next screen explains the steps for exporting your passwords from Chrome. Open Chrome on your mobile device.

Open Chrome.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

3. Select Password Manager

On an iPhone, tap the three-dot icon at the bottom of the screen and select Password Manager. Swipe to the bottom of the screen and tap Export Passwords. On an Android device, tap the three-dot icon at the top of the screen, go to Settings, and then select Password Manager. Tap the Settings icon and then tap Export Passwords.

Go to Chrome's Password Manager.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

4. Confirm and select Authenticator

Confirm that you want to export your passwords. Tap Authenticator as the app to which you want to export the passwords. A notification confirms that your passwords have been imported.

Export the passwords from Chrome to Authenticator.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

Import passwords from a password manager

If you already used a dedicated password manager, such as Apple Keychain,1Password , Dashlane , Bitwarden , LastPass , orRoboForm , you can add those passwords into Authenticator. 

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To do this, you'll have to export the passwords as a CSV file and then import them into Authenticator.

In Authenticator, go to Settings and tap the option forImport Passwords. Tap the button forImport from Password Managers. 

At the next screen, choose the password manager you use and then follow the steps for exporting your passwords.

Whether you export the passwords on your mobile device or PC, you'll need to make the CSV file available for your device, which you can do by copying it to a backup and sharing service, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud.

Also:How to use iCloud as a password manager on Windows

In the Microsoft Authenticator app, tap the notice asking if you have passwords saved in other apps or go to Settings and select the setting forImport from Password Managers. Choose your password manager. Navigate to the location and folder where you saved the CSV file and select it. Your imported passwords then appear.

Import your passwords from a password manager.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

Manually add a password

Of course, you can also manually add a new account to the app. At the Passwords screen, tap the + sign to add a password. Then type the URL, username, and password for the website account you want to add. When done, tap Save.

Manually add a password.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

Generate a password

Microsoft Authenticator can create a password for a new account or an existing account. In the iPhone app, tap the three-dot icon and selectPassword Generator. In the Android version, tap the + icon and selectGenerate password. 

Tap the link forCustomize Passwordto set the complexity and length for the password, opting to include or exclude letters, numbers, and special characters. Tap the refresh icon to generate a different password. 

Also: You're definitely not making the most of your password manager 

When done, tap the button forCopy Passwordto paste it elsewhere. Otherwise, tap the disk icon to use the password in a new account that you want to add to the app.

Generate a password.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

Use AutoFill

The Authenticator app will automatically fill in your username and password for saved online accounts. But first, you need to enable the feature. On an iPhone, go toSettings > Passwords > Password Options. Turn on the switch for AutoFill Passwords and select Authenticator to make it the default autofill app. Also, uncheck any other apps in the autofill list. On an Android phone, go to Settings in the Authenticator app. Turn on the switches forSet as autofill provider and AutoFill on more apps and sites.

Use Autofill.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

On an iPhone, autofill from third-party apps, such as Microsoft Authenticator, works only with Safari. But you can also use it with any app that needs a login. Open Safari and browse to one of the websites or open one of the apps for which your credentials are stored in the Authenticator app. Tap the field for username. In some cases, a button for Authenticator will display your correct name. If so, tap that button. Tap the field for password and then tap the button for your account name.

The Amazon sign-in page.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

In other cases, a key icon appears just above the keyboard. Tap that icon, and the Authenticator app displays the account. Select your account name in the app. 

The fields for username and password are then populated. Tap the "Sign in" button, and you're logged in to the site or app.

The LinkedIn login page.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

On an Android phone, the autofill process is similar to on an iPhone. Open your preferred browser or open a specific app. Tap the username field, and the account name from the Authenticator app will appear above or below the field. Tap that name. For the password field, the account name appears above the keyboard. Tap that name and then sign in to the Authenticator app. The username and password fields should both be populated, allowing you to sign in to the site or app.

The TechRepublic login page.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

Use Edge and Chrome on the desktop

Finally, you can use the Microsoft Authenticator autofill feature in the desktop versions of Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome via an extension. 

Also: Chrome Privacy Guide helps you step up your security settings

In Chrome or Edge, go to the Chrome web store link for Microsoft AutoFill and add the extension to the browser. Browse to a site for which the account is saved in Authenticator. Click the username field, and your account name should appear below it. Click the name, and Authenticator will sign you in to the site.

The Zoom sign-in page.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/

Windows 11

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