Google enables passkey support for Android devices and Chrome browser

Google wants to “abolish” passwords, so it will allow fingerprint or face authentication passkey systems to be integrated directly into Android apps and websites.

With passkey support provided by Google, developers will be able to integrate the passwordless authentication option for account registration with just an email address. The account password won’t exist, with authentication done strictly via Touch ID or Face ID from the device you’re logging in with.

The announcement comes after Google announced mid this year that it was working with major industry partners such as Apple and Microsoft on an initiative aimed at eliminating passwords altogether.

“Passkeys are a significantly more secure replacement for passwords and other phishing authentication factors,” Google said in a blog post. “They eliminate the risks associated with password reuse and security breaches of the service in question, while protecting users from phishing attacks.”

The launch of Passkey support allows users to create and use digital passwords on Android phones, meaning they won’t have to remember different password combinations. Passkeys are built on cryptographic standards developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium, allowing you to use your smartphone to log in to an app or website on a device, regardless of the software platform it uses.

Users will have automatic and multi-device access to their login keys without having to re-register each account. To create an access key, simply confirm the access account information and validate with your fingerprint, face or screen lock when prompted. You can also use a passkey stored on a phone to log in on a nearby device.