Why Passkey Portability Changes Everything
Passkeys replace traditional passwords with cryptographic keys stored securely on your devices. Instead of typing a password, you authenticate with biometrics or a device PIN, and your device proves ownership of a private key associated with a website’s public key. This makes phishing far harder, because your password manager passkeys will not authenticate to fake look‑alike sites. Until recently, the major drawback was lock‑in: there was no reliable way to move passkeys between apps, so switching password managers meant recreating credentials one by one. The emerging Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP), driven by the FIDO Alliance, fixes that with standardized passkey import/export. Now you can move passkeys between apps just as you already move password vaults, bringing real passkey portability. This is a key step toward passkeys becoming the primary way we sign in online, instead of brittle, reusable passwords.
Google Password Manager Catches Up With Import/Export
On Android, Google Password Manager is gaining its own passkey import export interface, bringing it in line with leading password tools. Although the feature is still hidden, it has already been activated in testing, showing options to both import and export passkeys. That matters because, on Android, CXP‑based transfers rely on Google Play Services and Google Password Manager to shuttle keys securely between providers. With this groundwork in place, other Android password managers that support passkeys, such as Samsung’s solution, can participate in seamless migration as well. In practice, this means you will be able to move passkeys between apps without re‑registering accounts on every site. For anyone still clinging to old passwords because of lock‑in fears, Android’s move toward system‑level passkey portability removes one of the last big reasons not to switch.
How Apple Passwords Sets the Standard for Moving Passkeys
Apple’s Passwords app already shows what smooth passkey portability looks like. On an iPhone or iPad, you install and set up your new password manager on the same device, then open Passwords, go to the home screen, tap the three dots, and choose “Export Data to Another App.” From there, you can manually select the login items that include passkeys, or simply select everything. After tapping Continue, an “Export Passwords” sheet appears listing compatible managers; pick your target app, confirm, and your passkeys move across. On a Mac, similar controls live under File > Export Selected Items to App. This native import/export flow makes it easy to move passkeys between apps without touching raw files or complex settings, and it set an early benchmark that other platforms and password managers are now racing to match.
Step‑by‑Step: Moving Passkeys Between Password Managers
Although each app looks a little different, the basic passkey import export process is similar across modern managers. First, install and sign into the new password manager on the same device as your current one. Next, open your existing manager and find its export or “move to another app” option—this may appear in a menu, under account settings, or in a file menu on desktop. Select the accounts or items you want to move; some apps let you filter just entries with passkeys, while others export your entire vault. When you proceed, you will usually see an “Export Passwords” confirmation followed by a list of compatible destinations. Choose your new manager and confirm. On the receiving side, you may see an import prompt or a simple success message. Finally, test a few key logins to ensure passkeys work correctly before deactivating the old app.
Preparing for a Passwordless Future
Passkey portability is more than a convenience feature—it is a signal that the industry is serious about moving beyond passwords. When you can move passkeys between apps and platforms, you are no longer locked into a single provider or ecosystem, and can choose tools based on features, trust, and usability instead of fear of losing access. That flexibility should make it easier to start enabling passkeys wherever they are offered, knowing you can bring them along if you switch managers later. As more services support passkeys and more password managers implement CXP, migrating your digital life will increasingly mean moving cryptographic credentials instead of fragile passwords. Now is a good time to audit your accounts, turn on passkeys for the services you use most, and make sure your current and future password managers both support passkey import/export for a smoother transition.