Google Tests Passkey Import and Export on Android
Google Password Manager on Android is quietly gaining a powerful new trick: passkey import and export. Hidden options discovered in the app’s settings replace the existing “Import passwords” and “Export passwords” entries with “Import passwords & passkeys” and “Export passwords & passkeys.” Behind the scenes, these new controls already work when enabled, even though Google has not rolled them out to the public yet. The export flow is slightly indirect: instead of a simple “save file” button, Google’s description says users will be prompted to transfer passkeys when they open another compatible password manager app. On the import side, a dedicated screen lets users choose which password manager currently stores their credentials, then hands off to that app to send passwords, passkeys, and other saved items into Google Password Manager. Google can still change or even cancel the feature, but the groundwork is clearly in place.
How Passkey Portability Works and Why It Matters
Passkeys replace traditional passwords with a cryptographic key pair: a private key stays securely on your device, while a public key is shared with the service you log into. Authentication becomes as simple as confirming your identity with a fingerprint or face scan, without ever typing a password. The challenge comes when you change phones or switch apps, because your private keys must move securely with you. This is where the Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP) enters. Backed by the FIDO Alliance and major vendors, CXP standardises how passkeys migrate between devices and providers. On Android, CXP runs through Google Play Services and Google Password Manager, acting as the broker that shuttles keys among apps. By implementing passkey import and export, Google turns theoretical passkey portability into something users can actually rely on when considering password manager switching.
Closing the Gap with Apple and Third‑Party Managers
Until now, Android lagged behind Apple and several independent password managers on passkey portability. Devices running recent versions of iOS and macOS already allow users to move passkeys into third‑party vaults, and services like Bitwarden and 1Password also support migration via CXP. Google has been a vocal supporter of the same standard but had not implemented full passkey import and export in Google Password Manager on Android. The newly surfaced interface finally brings Android users much closer to parity. In practice, CXP‑aware apps such as Bitwarden or Samsung’s password tools should be able to exchange keys with Google’s manager once the feature goes live. There may still be limitations, as support is expected only from providers that implement CXP, but the direction is clear: Android’s default password solution is being upgraded to play nicely within a wider ecosystem rather than locking users in.
What This Means for Password Manager Switching
For everyday users, passkey import export support in Google Password Manager on Android directly improves data portability. Instead of treating passkeys as a reason to stay with one provider forever, the new tools make it realistic to move your digital keys alongside traditional passwords when changing apps. When you tap “Import passwords & passkeys,” Android presents a list of compatible managers installed on your device, then routes you into the chosen app to initiate the transfer. Export works the other way around: opening a supported third‑party manager can trigger a prompt to bring passkeys over from Google’s vault. Combined with ongoing efforts by Google and Apple to simplify broader device‑to‑device migration, these capabilities signal that passkeys are maturing into a cross‑platform standard. As more services adopt passwordless logins, Android users will have greater freedom to reorganise their security setup without losing access.