Google has introduced a new feature for Android that makes transferring passwords and passkeys between different password managers easier and more secure.
According to ITNA citing Techspot, this process is managed directly by the operating system and allows users to move their sensitive information to a new password manager without downloading insecure text files.
To use this feature, you must first install the password manager you want to transfer data to on your phone. Then select the option to import or copy data from another password manager. Android automatically detects the password managers installed on the device and indicates which of them support direct transfer. After choosing the Continue option, the user can review the information to be transferred and then confirm the transfer.
The main advantage of this method is eliminating the need to download text files of passwords. In older methods, transferring data between some password managers could result in creating an unencrypted text file; a file that, if accessed by unauthorized persons, could jeopardize the security of the user’s accounts. Transferring passkeys was also often a time-consuming process and sometimes required each passkey to be transferred separately, but the new Android system performs this automatically.
Currently, Android’s transfer feature supports Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden, and Dashlane, and more password managers are expected to be added to this feature in the future. This feature is available on devices running Android 8 and newer versions.
Password managers remain one of the recommended methods for creating and storing strong, unique passwords, although they are not completely without risk. Passkeys, due to the use of PINs and biometric authentication methods and not sending sensitive information to servers, generally offer greater security than traditional passwords, but they also have vulnerabilities.
Overall, Android’s new feature can make secure transfer of passwords and passkeys much simpler for users who intend to change their password manager.