Google recently announced that it’s been working on a new and more streamlined system for transferring passwords and passkeys between different password managers for Android users, which reduces the security risks previously tied to file downloads. Jean-Pierre Pralle, Product Manager for Android states:
We believe you should have control over your digital life, including the freedom to choose the security tools that work best for you.
With that in mind, today we’re introducing a new experience on Android to help you safely and easily move your passwords and passkeys between password managers in just a few clicks — no file downloads required. This gives you more flexibility, all while keeping your information safe.
Previously, bringing over credentials to a different password management app required exporting data into unencrypted text files stored directly on the device, while passkeys could not be moved at all, forcing users to manually recreate them across apps and sites. As such, the new infrastructure now allows Android to coordinate the transfer directly between applications, in a much more secure manner.
Image: Google
Users can initiate the import within their new password manager app, select the provider they are leaving from a list of automatically detected services on their phone, and then authorize the transfer with a simple tap. The encrypted data then moves between the apps without saving vulnerable files to local storage.
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The feature is now available on Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden Password Manager, and Dashlane, with additional partners expected to integrate the tool in the near future.