Google has introduced a new Android feature that allows users to transfer passwords and passkeys directly between supported password managers without exporting sensitive credentials to files.
The new transfer mechanism is designed to make switching password managers both easier and safer. Instead of relying on manually exported files, Android now coordinates the transfer between compatible apps.
Until now, moving passwords between services commonly involved exporting credentials to files such as CSV documents, which may store usernames and passwords in unencrypted plaintext. Those files can remain accessible on the device after the migration unless users manually delete them.
Passkeys presented another limitation because they generally could not be transferred between password managers, forcing users to recreate them individually for supported websites and applications.
Google says the new Android workflow addresses both problems by providing a system-level transfer process.
Users begin the migration from their new password manager by selecting an option to import or copy credentials from another provider. Android then detects compatible password managers already installed on the device and presents the available sources.
After the user selects one and continues, Android redirects them to the existing password manager, where they can review and authorize the transfer. Passwords and passkeys then move directly between applications without requiring the user to create or handle an intermediate credential file.
Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden Password Manager, and Dashlane already support the feature, and Google says additional password managers are expected to add support.
Google Password Manager is Google's built-in credential management service for Android and Chrome, while 1Password, Bitwarden, and Dashlane are widely used third-party password managers available across multiple platforms.
The introduction of direct passkey transfers is particularly significant as passkeys become more widely adopted as an alternative to traditional passwords. Passkeys use public-key cryptography and let users sign in with device authentication methods such as biometrics or a screen lock, reducing exposure to phishing and password theft.
By making passkeys portable between compatible password managers, Android also reduces a practical barrier users can encounter when switching providers.
Users moving to a supported password manager should use the new built-in transfer option where available instead of exporting credentials to plaintext files. Anyone who previously migrated passwords using CSV or similar exports should also check that those files have been securely deleted from local storage, backups, and cloud-sync folders once they are no longer needed.
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