Chrome users are now more familiar with Passkey, a digital credential that lets you sign in to apps and websites without typing a password.
Starting today, you can store your passkeys in Google Password Manager, Google's password manager built into Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it will automatically sync your passkeys across all your signed-in devices. The password manager client for Android now also automatically syncs your passkeys, with iOS sync support coming soon. (Passkey sync is in beta on ChromeOS.)
Sync your passkey via Google Password Manager. Image credit: Google
For added protection, Google is adding a PIN to the password manager. If you want to start using Passkey on a new device, you'll need to know either the PIN or screen lock code for your Android device. You can set a six-digit PIN or choose a longer alphanumeric PIN.
Password Manager's new PIN system. Image courtesy of Google
“These recovery factors let you securely access your saved passkeys and sync new passkeys across your computers and Android devices,” Chrome product manager Chirag Desai wrote in a blog post.
Passkey use is on the rise: 53% of people have enabled passkey on at least one account, and 20% of the top 100 websites worldwide now support passkey, according to the FIDO Alliance, an industry group that develops authentication standards.
In 2023, Google made Passkey the default sign-in method for all users. More recently, the tech giant introduced support for Passkey to its Advanced Protection Program, a program for politicians, candidates and other people at high risk of targeted attacks, ahead of the U.S. presidential election.