Google Password Manager Introduces Passkey Support for iOS and iPadOS 17+

Google Password Manager Introduces Passkey Support for iOS and iPadOS 17+

Google Chrome Introduces Passkey Support for iOS and iPadOS

Google has unveiled that Chrome for iOS now incorporates support for passkeys, streamlining the process of syncing your login credentials across various devices. With the recent addition of iOS and iPadOS compatibility, users can effortlessly synchronize this innovative login method across a wide range of platforms, including Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS.

Understanding Passkeys: A Secure Alternative to Passwords

Passkeys offer a modern solution for user authentication by allowing sign-ins for websites and applications through biometric recognition, such as fingerprints or facial ID, alongside PINs or unique patterns. This approach eliminates traditional passwords, theoretically enhancing security by making it harder for cybercriminals to compromise accounts. However, it is worth noting that currently, passkeys cannot be exported when switching browsers. Fortunately, future developments promise to enable this feature.

Requirements for Passkey Creation

To generate passkeys within the Google Password Manager on iOS or iPadOS, you must be operating on version 17 or higher of the respective systems. These specifications also apply to seamlessly sync passkeys from other devices.

Solving Cross-Platform Syncing Challenges

Google addresses the persistence of cross-platform syncing issues with passkeys, stating:

“Previously, passkeys created on Google Password Manager on Android, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS were not available on iOS or iPadOS. Similarly, passkeys created on iOS or iPadOS were saved to Apple Passwords (formerly iCloud Keychain) and not synced to other platforms. While Apple Passwords syncs passkeys across Apple devices under the same Apple account, it does not extend compatibility to other platforms.”

Setting Up Chrome Passkeys on Your Device

To activate passkeys in Chrome on your iOS device, you need to designate Chrome as your autofill provider. Navigate to your device’s Settings, select General > AutoFill & Passwords, and under Autofill From, switch the toggle for Chrome to enable autofilling your credentials.

Test Out Passkeys with GitHub

Although passkeys represent an emerging login method and still exhibit certain limitations, such as the inability to export them, users can experiment with them using GitHub accounts. Notably, GitHub allows passkey sign-ins as a supplementary option to traditional passwords, ensuring users without passkey-compatible devices can still access their accounts using passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA).

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