How to use your Android phone’s built-in password manager

Android devices are packed with features that make your digital life easier to navigate, and one of the most useful is the password manager.

Not only do password managers store your credentials for hassle-free logins, they also make it easier to create strong, unique passwords for every app or website you use. This is important, as hackers have many strategies to get around weak passwords, and password reuse puts multiple accounts at risk if someone steals your credentials.

While we normally recommend using a highly-rated third-party password manager service, the advantage of using the one on Android is that it’s free and built right into your device – you don’t need to buy or download an additional app to use it. . It also easily links your encrypted password information to your Google account, so your saved logins can be accessed anywhere you’re signed in with your Google account. Google also monitors your passwords and warns you if any passwords are leaked.

How to enable Google Password Manager on Android

On your Android device, go to Settings > Privacy > Google AutoFill Service or use the search bar in the settings menu to find AutoFill. Turn on “Use Google Autofill.” Make sure you are signed in to the correct Google account. Tap “Passwords” in the AutoFill menu to open the Password Keeper menu. Tap the gear-shaped Settings icon in the top-right corner, then enable “Offer to save passwords” if you want your device to save login information for apps and websites you visit in Chrome. Remember that Google’s password manager doesn’t store passwords used in other browsing apps like Firefox or Edge, but these apps also offer their password manager features.

With these settings enabled, your phone will suggest new passwords when you create new accounts in apps or websites and keep them safe. However, there are several other optional settings that you can enable.

To make logging in even easier, enable “Login Automatically,” Your phone will automatically enter saved usernames and passwords when prompted. For added security, enable “Password Alerts” to be notified if any of your passwords are found online. It’s like using Have I Been Pwned to check for leaked passwords, but Google constantly and automatically warns you if a login is compromised.

Manage saved passwords with Google Password Manager.

Now that Google Password Manager is enabled on your device, you can search, view, and edit saved passwords in the Google Password Manager menu. All saved credentials are displayed in the list at the bottom of the screen.

Tap any listed websites or apps to view the account information and currently saved password (you must enter your lock screen PIN, password, or fingerprint to access this menu). Once inside, you can edit or delete the saved password information.

Security Check

If you receive a password protection warning or if you want to check the strength of each saved password, go to Settings > Privacy > Google Autofill Service > Passwords and select “Check passwords” to open the Password Checker tool. On the next screen, tap ‘Check passwords’ and follow the instructions.

Export password data

You can export password data from Google Password Manager under Settings > Privacy > Google Autofill Service > Passwords > Settings > Export Passwords. This will create a file of your password information that you can import to another service like 1Password, or use as a backup to keep offline.

Autofill personal information, payment information, and more

While not strictly bound by the Google Password Manager, Android phones can store and autofill lots of other useful personal information, such as your name, birthday, and gender; addresses for your home, workplace, or frequently visited locations; and payment methods such as credit card numbers or Google Pay. You can enable these features and edit any saved information at Settings > Privacy > Google Autofill Service.

[SlashGear]