diff --git a/packages/edit-site/src/components/sidebar-edit-mode/page-panels/page-status.js b/packages/edit-site/src/components/sidebar-edit-mode/page-panels/page-status.js
index b872d4e12c25e9..ed41f8c2baa87e 100644
--- a/packages/edit-site/src/components/sidebar-edit-mode/page-panels/page-status.js
+++ b/packages/edit-site/src/components/sidebar-edit-mode/page-panels/page-status.js
@@ -212,11 +212,8 @@ export default function PageStatus( {
 													} )
 												}
 												value={ password }
-												/* eslint-disable jsx-a11y/no-autofocus */
-												autoFocus={ ! password }
-												/* eslint-enable jsx-a11y/no-autofocus */
 												placeholder={ __(
-													'Enter a secure password'
+													'Use a secure password'
 												) }
 												type="text"
 											/>