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- 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 was 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 first rolled out ExpressKeys, the VPN provider promised 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 newly 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 vault, this policy shift could significantly impact their everyday usefulness.
The updated document explicitly states: "If previously activated, you can 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 lapses, 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 could become much harder to use as your primary password manager.
Password managers are essential because they generate and store secure, complex passwords whenever 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 save those new details directly into 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 once your subscription ends.
A quiet policy shift
The exact timing of this terms and conditions update remains unclear. A look back at the company's archived terms reveals that this restrictive language was not present as recently as September.
TechRadar has contacted ExpressVPN to clarify exactly when this change was introduced and what prompted the alteration. We will update this article as soon as we hear back.
This adjustment follows other recent changes to the company's overall product offerings. When the provider introduced new subscription plans last year, in fact, it already made ExpressKeys exclusive to new, higher-tier users.
When the rollout of the built-in password manager was completed, it was a significant free addition to a premium VPN package. By altering the terms, ExpressVPN may be encouraging users to remain within its active paid ecosystem if they wish to keep full password manager functionality.
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