The form autocomplete option in modern browsers is useful and eliminates the hassle of logging into different websites with different credentials. However, it could also turn out to be a privacy nightmare, especially if you use a shared computer or smartphone. So to help protect your login credentials, we will show you how to disable autocomplete for forms and websites in Google Chrome on desktop and mobile devices in this article.
Disable AutoComplete in Google Chrome: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide.
AutoComplete is usually enabled by default, but all major web browsers allow you to disable it for obvious privacy reasons. Disabling the feature is usually the correct move, although it makes logging into websites a bit less convenient. So without further ado, here is how you can disable or disable the autocomplete feature in Google Chrome:
Disable Google Chrome AutoComplete on Desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
Note : We are using Chrome on Windows for the purpose of this demo, but the process of disabling form autocomplete is identical on Mac and Linux computers. .
- Open Google Chrome on your computer and click on the three-dot menu buttonin the upper right corner. Then select ” Settings” from the drop-down menu.
Note : You can also access Settings directly by copying and pastingchrome://settingsinto Chrome’s address barand hittingEnter.
- In the Settings window, find the “ Auto-fill” And disable the auto-fill feature individually in three categories: Passwords, payment methods, addresses and more.
- First click on ” Passwords”and turn off the switch next to ” Offer to save passwords”. This will prevent passwords from being automatically saved and completed on your device. Also, disable the ” Automatic Login ” option if it is not already disabled. This will ensure that the browser does not automatically log into websites with stored credentials.
- Now go to the ” Payment Methods” section under Autocomplete in Chrome. Uncheck the “Save and complete payment methods” and “Allow sites to check for saved payment methods” options on the next page.
- Finally, repeat the above process for ” Directions and more”. Basically, turn off the switch next to ” Save and fill in addresses” to prevent Google from suggesting phone numbers and addresses while filling in forms.
After disabling autocomplete in Google Chrome, you will no longer fill in any information in any forms on your computer in the future. To re-enable auto-complete in Google Chrome, retrace your steps and turn on all the switches that you turned off in the previous steps. You can also turn on just one or two of the switches based on the information you want Chrome to auto-complete.
Delete AutoComplete information in Google Chrome on desktop
For full privacy, we also suggest that you remove all your saved passwords and other auto-fill information from Google Chrome. That includes credit card information, phone numbers, addresses, etc.
To do so, check out our tutorial on how to delete history in any major web browser. Make sure to check the “Autocomplete form data” option while clearing your browsing history.
Disable AutoComplete in Google Chrome for mobile devices (Android and iOS)
Note : The screenshots here are from Chrome for Android, but the process of disabling autocomplete in Google Chrome for iOS remains the same.
- On your Android device, open the Chrome app. Then, tap on the three-dot menu buttonin the upper right corner and select ” Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- Now, just like in the desktop version, you need to disable autocomplete individually for the three categories: passwords, payment methods and addresses, and more. First, tap ” Passwords” and turn off the switch next to ” Save passwords“. Of course, the ” Automatic Login ” option should also remain unchecked to prevent the browser from automatically logging you in to websites.
- Then go back to the Settings page and select ” Payment Methods“. Then turn off the switch for the ” Save and complete payment methods” option.
- Lastly, go to the ” Addresses and more” section and disable the switch next to ” Save and complete addresses” in Chrome. This ensures that the browser will no longer offer to save your form information and implement auto-complete on your Android or iOS phone.
Delete AutoComplete information in Google Chrome on Android and iOS
To ensure your complete peace of mind, delete all the saved information from the auto-fill form by clearing the Google Chrome browsing history on your Android or iOS phone.
- To do so, first go to the Settings page as described above and then select “ Privacy and security -> Clear browsing data“.
- On the next page, go to the ” Advanced” Tab and select ” All Time” from the drop-down menu next to Time Interval. Lastly, make sure the ” Autocomplete form data ” option is checked before pressing the ” Clear data ” button.
To re-enable autocomplete in the Google Chrome app on your smartphone, retrace your steps and turn on the three switches that you disabled in the previous steps.
Strengthen your privacy by disabling AutoComplete in Chrome
Autocomplete is a cool and powerful feature that you should have whenever you are not using a shared PC. However, in case you are not the only one using the device, it could become a major privacy issue. In some cases, it can even result in real-world damage if the device falls into the wrong hands. Hopefully, this detailed tutorial will help you protect yourself from such scenarios. In the meantime, as a privacy-conscious user, we also suggest that you check out some other privacy-related tutorials, including how to change DNS settings in Windows and how to improve security and privacy on iPhone. Finally, get to know the best browsers for privacy on Android and iOS.
