Google has introduced a new Android feature that makes it easier to switch between password managers. The new system lets users transfer passwords and passkeys directly between supported password-manager apps without having to download them into an unencrypted file first.
To start the transfer, users need to open their new password manager and select the option to import or copy passwords and passkeys from another provider. Android will then detect existing password managers on the device and coordinate the transfer between the two apps.
Once the user taps βContinueβ, Android will automatically bring them to their existing password manager, where they can select, review, and authorise the transfer. Once that is done, the data will then be transferred between the two apps securely within a few seconds, or so the company says.
As mentioned earlier, the new system also supports passkey transfers. This means users can move their existing passkeys to a new password manager without having to recreate them across multiple sites and apps. Google says the new method is safer than the traditional approach, which involved downloading passwords into an unencrypted text file and leaving the sensitive data unprotected on the device.
Google says the new experience is available with Google Password Manager and select partner services. These include 1Password, Bitwarden Password Manager, and Dashlane, with the company saying that it plans to add more partners in the future. The feature is compatible with devices running Android 8 or later.
(Source: Google)