- 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
- It was previously promised that ExpressKeys would remain fully functional and free to use.
ExpressVPN has quietly done a 180-degree turn regarding the long-term use of its password manager.
When it first launched ExpressKeys, 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 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 they retain 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 change could significantly impact their daily usability.
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 expires, you won’t be blocked from 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 prove much more difficult to use as a primary password manager.
Password managers are essential because they generate and store complex, secure 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 save those new details directly to ExpressKeys.
Additionally, 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 silent policy change
The exact timing of this update to the terms and conditions is not yet clear. A look back at the company’s filed terms reveals that this restrictive language was not present in September.
TechRadar has reached out to ExpressVPN to clarify exactly when this change was introduced and what caused 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 offering. When the provider introduced new subscription plans last year, in fact, it already made ExpressKeys exclusive to new, higher-tier users.
When the implementation of the built-in password manager was completed, it was an important free addition to a premium VPN package. By modifying the terms, ExpressVPN may encourage users to stay within its active paid ecosystem if they want to maintain full password manager functionality.
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