Google makes it easier to use passkeys across devices
Google has started rolling out updates that make it easier to use passkeys across devices, allowing users to securely sync passkeys across different platforms.
Last year, the search giant adopted passkeys as the default login method for personal accounts, furthering the move toward a passwordless future.
Passkeys provide a secure and convenient way to log in to apps and websites using biometrics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or screen locks, eliminating the need for traditional passwords.
Previously, passkeys were only saved in Google's password manager on Android. Users could access them on other devices after scanning a QR code from an Android device.
With the new update, Google is making it easier to sign in by automatically syncing your passkey across devices once you save your passkey.
Google also brings the PIN into your password manager to create and access passkeys across devices.
This PIN adds extra security by ensuring that your passkeys remain end-to-end encrypted and inaccessible, even to Google.
When setting up passkeys on a new device, you need to use your Google Password Manager PIN or Android device's screen lock.
These recovery factors help you securely access and sync your saved passkeys across all your computers and Android devices.
Users can set a default six-digit PIN or choose a longer alphanumeric PIN by selecting “PIN Options.”
You can create passkeys for popular sites, such as WhatsApp, Google, Amazon, and PayPal.
With the password manager built into Android devices and Chromebooks, there's no need to download additional apps to use passkeys.
Passwords can now be saved in your password manager across Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android. ChromeOS support is currently in beta testing, with iOS compatibility expected soon.