- ExpressVPN has updated the terms of service for its password manager
- Users who cancel their plan will now lose the ability to add new logins
- ExpressKeys were previously promised to remain fully functional, free to use
ExpressVPN has quietly made a U-turn regarding the long-term use of its password manager.
When ExpressKeys was first rolled out, the VPN provider promised that the tool would remain fully functional and free to use even after users canceled their premium VPN subscription.
Now that policy has changed. According to ExpressVPN’s recently updated terms and conditions, non-paying users face strict new restrictions on how they can interact with ExpressKeys after their active VPN plan expires. Crucially, while retaining access to existing passwords, users will now lose the ability to add new ones.
What this means for your passwords
For users who have come to rely on ExpressKeys as their primary digital box, this policy change could greatly affect their everyday use.
The updated document expressly states: “If previously enabled, you may continue to access existing ExpressKeys credentials even if you decide to stop using our ExpressVPN service, but you may not be able to add new information.”
If your VPN subscription expires, you won’t be locked out of the accounts you’ve already saved. You will still be able to access your existing passwords. However, because you may not be able to add new information, the tool can become much more difficult to use as your primary password manager.
Password managers are essential because they generate and store secure, complex passwords every time you create a new online account.
So if you sign up for a new streaming service or are forced to change a compromised password, you may no longer be able to store these new details directly in ExpressKeys.
Furthermore, the terms clarify that if you never activated the newly launched standalone password manager while your VPN plan was active, you will be completely locked out of the feature when your subscription ends.
A quiet change of policy
The exact timing of this update to the terms and conditions is still unclear. A look back at the company’s archived terms reveals that this restrictive language was not present as recently as September.
TechRadar has reached out to ExpressVPN to find out exactly when this change was introduced and what prompted the change. We will update this article as soon as we hear back.
This adjustment follows other recent changes to the company’s overall product offering. When the provider introduced new subscription plans last year, it actually already made ExpressKeys exclusive to new, higher-level users.
When the rollout of the built-in password manager was complete, it was a significant free addition to a premium VPN package. By changing the terms, ExpressVPN can encourage users to remain within its active paid ecosystem if they wish to retain full password management functionality.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
