Google Tests Passkey Import and Export in Password Manager
Google is quietly testing passkey import and export inside Google Password Manager on Android, a change that could transform how users manage their logins. Hidden options uncovered in the app’s settings replace the current “Import passwords” and “Export passwords” entries with “Import passwords & passkeys” and “Export passwords & passkeys.” Early testing shows these controls already work behind the scenes, even though they are not yet live for everyone. Instead of a simple file export, Google’s implementation is designed to prompt users to transfer passkeys when they open another compatible password manager, streamlining the flow between apps. This deeper integration matters because Android’s underlying passkey transfers rely on Google Play Services and Google Password Manager to move credentials between providers. Once officially switched on, Android users will finally gain true passkey portability, rather than being confined to a single credential store.
Closing the Feature Gap with Apple’s Passwords App
Apple’s Passwords app has already set expectations for passkey portability by supporting secure migration to third-party managers on its latest platforms. Users can open Passwords, select “Export Data to Another App,” and then choose supported apps such as 1Password to receive both traditional passwords and passkeys in one flow. That experience was a turning point for some users who had resisted passkeys precisely because they could not move them between apps. With Google now preparing similar passkey import/export capabilities on Android, the functional gap between the two ecosystems narrows significantly. Both platforms will let users generate passkeys, sync them across their own devices, and crucially, move them out to other managers. This symmetry is important for people who use multiple devices across platforms and want consistent control over how and where their strongest credentials are stored.
Why Passkey Portability Matters for Vendor Lock-In
Passkeys promise stronger, phishing-resistant authentication, but until now they came with an uncomfortable catch: once you committed to a provider’s ecosystem, you were effectively locked in. Unlike passwords, which you can export as a file and import elsewhere, passkeys are cryptographic keys tied to specific devices and apps. The emerging Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP), backed by the FIDO Alliance and implemented by major managers like Bitwarden and 1Password, is designed to solve this. Apple has already embraced these specifications, and Google’s testing on Android signals that passkey portability is becoming a baseline expectation. When users know they can move passkeys just as easily as passwords, the fear of being trapped inside one platform recedes. That, in turn, lowers the psychological barrier to adopting passwordless logins and encourages broader, more confident use of passkeys across services.
Toward Frictionless Password Manager Switching on Android
Once Google’s passkey import/export tools go mainstream, the dynamics of password manager switching on Android will change. Today, you can bring your saved passwords into a new app, but you typically have to rebuild passkeys from scratch service by service, which discourages experimentation and migration. With system-level support, an Android user could install a third-party manager, trigger an import from Google Password Manager, and carry over both passwords and passkeys in one guided process. Conversely, those returning to Google’s tool could pull credentials back in just as easily. This kind of symmetry makes passkeys feel less like a risky bet and more like a transportable asset you fully control. As passkeys move toward becoming the default way to sign in, seamless cross-app mobility on Android will be essential for keeping authentication secure without sacrificing user choice or flexibility.