The Primary Password is only used locally to encrypt the passwords stored in Lockwise (logins.json in the profile folder) and never leaves the computer (i.e. isn't part of syncing logins).

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-primary-password-protect-stored-logins

The password for the Firefox Account used for connecting to Sync is different and is used to encrypt all profile data locally before it is uploaded to the Sync server.

In case of issues try to login to the Firefox Account via this website.

• https://accounts.firefox.com/signin
• https://accounts.firefox.com/settings

Thanks for your advice. It confirms there are two 2 different items (Lockwise and Sync) and two separate passwords. My problem is with the Lockwise one. The help article (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-primary-password-protect-stored-logins) is very clear and useful, provided you still know the Primary Password. It is needed when you want to change or remove it. If you do not remember it what is the next step ? Can a tweak into the profile or a profile delete and set up of a new one sort the problem. Would last resort be a full reinstall of Firefox?

You will have to reset the Primary Password or rename/remove logins.json and key4.db in the Firefox profile folder if you do not remember the PP. This causes all current logins to get lost unless they are still on another device. If you are connected to Sync then best is to disconnect this device and possibly backup the logins on the other device.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-login-data-firefox-lockwise

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-your-primary-password-if-youve-forgotten-it

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-your-primary-password-if-youve-forgotten-it leading to chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xhtml worked a treat. Now some hard work reinstalling the logins and associated passwords

feedback!

I am sorry I have to somehow reopen the question. After resetting/erasing the Primary Password and changing my account password, I reinstated a few logins/passwords without setting a Primary Password (untick box Use a Primary Password in Settings/Privacy & Security/Logins and Passwords). So far so good. When I ticked the box, a Primary Password request popped up I gave a brand new password different from the account one.

Then trouble started again: password not accepted for signing into Lockwise and password not accepted for signing into my Firefox account. I tried all possibilities; none worked.

Are there really two different passwords? I begin to be suspicious when I see 3 versions of basically the same panel asking to sign into "Account Settings", "Firefox Sync", "Pocket". Even more suspicious when the panel quote: "One account, many services" (and this includes Lockwise). One single password for the lot would make sense.... but that would also mean the same Primary Password for Lockwise on all synced systems is stored remotely.

I believe this was not the initial intention; see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-primary-password-protect-stored-logins "Multiple devices/profiles: Primary passwords are set locally and are not synced between profiles or devices. If you use more than one device or profile, those use separate primary passwords".

If you set a Primary Password via "Settings -> Privacy & Security" then this PP only works in a PP prompt like when you get if you open Lockwise (about:logins) or, if you use Sync, when you start Firefox to unlock the passwords and make it possible to access the credentials of the Sync account stored in the Password Manager (this "chrome://FirefoxAccounts" entry is not visible in Lockwise, but is stored in logins.json). You only need to enter the password for the Sync account if you need to (re)connect to Sync because you disconnected Sync or possibly if you visit the "accounts.firefox.com" website.