Google Tests Passkey Import and Export on Android
Google Password Manager on Android is preparing to support true passkey import and export, addressing one of the biggest pain points of modern authentication. Hidden settings discovered in the app show new options labeled “Import passwords & passkeys” and “Export passwords & passkeys,” replacing the current password-only tools. Early testing indicates these options already work behind the scenes, even though Google has not enabled them for regular users yet. When you choose to import, Google Password Manager can hand you off to another supported manager, such as Bitwarden, to transfer stored passwords, passkeys, and other items back into Google’s ecosystem. Export behaviour is slightly different: rather than a simple file dump, Android will prompt you to move passkeys when you open another compatible password manager app. This suggests Google intends passkey import export to be guided, secure, and tightly integrated with Android’s credential system.
How Apple and Other Password Managers Raised the Bar
Google’s move comes after rivals effectively set the standard for passkey portability. Apple devices running recent versions of iOS and macOS already allow users to move passkeys to third-party password managers using the Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP). Popular services like Bitwarden and 1Password also support CXP-based passkey migration between devices. In that context, Google has been lagging behind, despite backing the same protocol. On Android, CXP transfers depend on Google Play Services and Google Password Manager to shuttle keys between providers, so Google’s delay has slowed the entire ecosystem. Now that the underlying interface for passkey import export is visible and functioning in tests, Android is close to parity with competing platforms. Once live, you should see passkey migration options not only in Google Password Manager Android but also in other apps that hook into the same system, including built-in tools like Samsung Pass.
Why Passkey Portability Matters for Vendor Lock-In
Passkeys promise stronger, easier logins by replacing passwords with cryptographic keys stored on your devices. However, without reliable passkey portability, they create a new kind of vendor lock-in. If your passkeys are trapped inside one password manager or platform, switching tools means re-registering credentials with every service that supports passkeys, which is tedious enough to keep people on their existing provider. By letting you move passkeys between apps, Google’s implementation of CXP directly tackles this lock-in problem. Android users will gain the freedom to change password managers without abandoning the security and convenience benefits of passkeys. This flexibility is crucial as more services encourage or require passwordless sign-ins. With passkey portability in place, choosing a password manager becomes less about fear of being stuck and more about features, interface, and trust—exactly the kind of competition the ecosystem needs.
A Crucial Step as Passkeys Replace Passwords
As passkeys spread, they are moving from an optional extra to a primary login method for many services. That shift magnifies every design flaw, and on Android, one of the most serious has been the inability to move passkeys between apps. Many users have been cautious about adopting passkeys widely because choosing the “wrong” manager could lock their most important credentials into a single ecosystem. Google Password Manager Android gaining passkey import export is therefore more than a minor settings tweak; it removes a major friction point that has slowed adoption. By anchoring passkey migration in system-level components like Google Play Services, the update should also make it easier for other Android password managers to participate. While the feature is still hidden and may evolve before launch, the groundwork is now clearly in place for a more open, portable passkey future on Android.