Users Left Scrambling For A Plan B As Dropbox Drops Dropbox Passwords

Dropbox has given users of its password manager until the end of October to extract their data before pulling the plug on the service.

The discontinuation of Dropbox Passwords will happen in phases. In less than a month, on August 28, Dropbox Passwords will become view-only in both the mobile app and browser extension, and the autofill functionality will be deactivated.

On September 11, the mobile app will stop working completely, although data will remain accessible through the browser extension.

Finally, on October 28, Dropbox Passwords will be entirely discontinued. Users will lose access to all their data, and all saved usernames, passwords, and payment information will be "permanently and securely deleted."

Dropbox has recommended 1Password as a replacement. While the service is an adequate password manager, it is prone to the occasional glitch. Users will need to pay a subscription once 1Password's free trial ends.

As for why Dropbox decided to drop the service, the company said it was "part of our efforts to focus on enhancing other features in our core product."

The service was launched in 2020 for paid Dropbox plans and extended to all users in 2021. As with many other similar services, it provided users with a secure place to store their usernames and passwords, autofilled fields on websites and apps, and notified users if their private information had been compromised in a breach.

Which was part of the problem. There is plenty of competition in the password manager world. LastPass and 1Password are prime examples, and Apple, Microsoft, and Google have all thrown their hats into the ring.

• Dropbox to shed another 500 staff, CEO takes 'full responsibility'
• Dropbox dropped the ball on security, haemorrhaging customer and third-party info
• The truth about Dropbox opening up your files to AI – and the loss of trust in tech
• Dropbox drops bucks to ditch digs in long-term WFH model

Dropbox, a veteran of the storage synchronization world, followed, but is now bowing out to focus on its core products.

While the service never achieved the popularity of its rivals, it had a number of loyal users, many of whom have complained on social media. One questioned the move, saying: "It should have been something you ran past paid Dropbox users – to see how much they benefited from it, instead of just getting rid."

A support worker thanked the user for their feedback and said: "We'll make sure to log your comments accordingly." A great comfort, we're sure.

Dropbox has been having a rough time of it lately. The company has subjected staff to several rounds of layoffs, and in October 2024, CEO Drew Houston stated: "We're making more significant cuts in areas where we're over-invested or underperforming."

In calendar 2024, DropBox reported revenue of $2.54 billion, up from $2.5 billion in the prior year. Net income dropped to $452.3 million from $453.6 million. ®