Switching from one password manager to another is getting much easier on Android. Google has introduced a new system that allows users to transfer their passwords and passkeys directly between supported password managers without first downloading them as a separate file.
The feature currently works with Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden Password Manager and Dashlane. Google says more password managers will support the system in the future.
No More Password Export Files
Moving hundreds of saved passwords from one service to another hasn’t always been simple. Users often had to export their passwords into a file and then manually import that file into the new password manager. The bigger concern was that passwords could temporarily sit inside an unencrypted text file on the device.
Google’s new Android system removes this extra step. Passwords can now move directly between supported password managers without creating an export file first, making the process easier and safer for users.
Passkeys Can Be Transferred Too
The change becomes even more useful for people who have started using passkeys. Unlike regular passwords, passkeys previously couldn’t simply be exported and moved between password managers. As a result, switching password managers could mean creating those passkeys again for different websites and apps.
Android’s new transfer system supports both passwords and passkeys, allowing users to move them together when switching to another supported password manager. This could become more useful as more apps and websites start offering passkeys as an alternative to traditional passwords.
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How Does the New Transfer System Work?
Google has kept the process fairly simple. You start from the new password manager that you want to use and select its option to import or copy passwords and passkeys from another service. The app will then pass the process to Android.
Android automatically checks which compatible password managers are already installed on the device. It then shows the services from which you can transfer your information. After selecting one, Android takes you to the old password manager where you can review and approve the transfer.
Google says the actual transfer can then finish within a few seconds.
Four Password Managers Support It Initially
At launch, the new transfer system supports Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden Password Manager and Dashlane. This means someone moving from one supported service to another no longer needs to depend on the older file-based method.
Google has also confirmed that more partners will join later. However, the company hasn’t revealed which password managers will be added next.
It Works on Older Android Phones Too
Another useful part of the feature is that you don’t necessarily need a new flagship Android phone to use it. Google says its new password and passkey transfer experience is compatible with devices running Android 8 or later.
That covers a large number of Android smartphones still in use today. However, support can also depend on the password manager you’re using, so users should keep their apps updated.
Why Is This Better Than the Old Method?
The biggest advantage is convenience, but security is equally important. Previously, exporting passwords could create a readable file containing login information. Users then had to import the file into another password manager and remember to delete it afterwards.
The new process allows Android and supported password managers to handle the transfer directly. It also solves another problem by making passkeys easier to move between supported services.
Users don’t have to stay with the same password manager simply because they have already saved several passkeys there. This gives Android users more freedom when choosing which password manager they want to use.
If you already use one of the supported services and want to switch, you can start the process from the password manager you want to move to and let Android handle the transfer.
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