Google Updates Its Built-In Password Manager For Chrome And Android

Each passing day standalone password managers like 1Password and Bitwarden, amongst several others, continue to grow in popularity among users. In an attempt to position password managers for Chrome and Android as an alternative to other third-party options, Google is now set to make an update to this service. In a recent announcement by Google, rather than simply relying on Chrome’s offer to save credentials when you use them, Google is now offering users the ability to manually add passwords to the service. Although signs of this feature are present in Chrome for desktop, Google says it’s now putting effort into ensuring this feature is available to “all platforms.”

The search giant also disclosed plans for a unified design for the password manager between Chrome and Android. Google plans to roll out one that is “simplified” and delivers a “unified management experience.” On the way with this will be a feature that automatically groups or integrates multiple passwords that are used on the same site. For the Android platform, a “Touch-to-Login ” feature is on the way, one that gives users the ability to enter their credentials via an overlay at the bottom of the screen, this is said to aid logging by making it easier, quicker and more efficient.

Before now, the password manager for Android had the ability to spot weak and reused passwords (these passwords are automatically changed) and also autofill these saved passwords for apps outside of Chrome on iOS. However, note that this ability to automatically change your reused passwords is only available to a limited number of websites that are eligible. Google assures of plans to bring continuous improvements to the password manager, improvements that would support emerging technologies like the passwordless passkeys which Apple and Microsoft earlier in the year pledged support.

Despite offering a password manager with feature sets that are incredible and can be comparable to standalone third-party password managers, Google isn’t considering spinning the password manager into a standalone app just yet. However, a 9to5Google report mentioned that it’s most likely that Google will add a shortcut to the password manager right on the Android home screen, which is admittedly better than having to manually look for it on your Android settings.

So far, the password manager from Google is absolutely free and can do so many wonders, unlike a few other third-party password managers that lock a few key features behind a paywall including the ability to sync your account between various devices.