Google Tests Passkey Import and Export in Password Manager
Google Password Manager on Android is quietly evolving from a basic sync tool into a true hub for password manager portability. Hidden options for “Import passwords & passkeys” and “Export passwords & passkeys” have been activated by developers poking around under the hood, revealing that Google is actively testing passkey import export flows within Android. The new interface sits where today’s password-only import and export settings live, but extends them to modern authentication. Early tests show the import process already working: users can choose a password manager that currently stores their credentials, select a supported app like Bitwarden, and then hand off to that app to move passwords and passkeys into Google Password Manager. Export works differently; instead of a single button, Android is designed to prompt you to transfer passkeys when you open another compatible password manager that supports the same protocol.
How Credential Exchange Protocol Makes Passkeys Portable
Behind the scenes, Google’s new feature is powered by the Credential Exchange Protocol (CXP), an industry standard championed by the FIDO Alliance to make passkeys portable. Passkeys rely on cryptographic key pairs: a private key stored securely on your device and a public key shared with services. Until now, moving those private keys between apps or platforms has been awkward, often forcing users to recreate passkeys from scratch. CXP solves this by defining a secure way for trusted providers to exchange keys, enabling seamless passkey migration. On Android, CXP transfers depend on Google Play Services and Google Password Manager to shuttle keys between providers. This means once Google flips the switch, other passkey-capable managers such as Samsung’s tools on Android should also surface migration options, giving users a consistent and safer way to move their digital keys without dropping back to vulnerable, reusable passwords.
Reaching Parity with Apple and Third‑Party Password Managers
Apple devices running recent iOS and macOS versions already support passkey export Android users have been waiting for: the ability to move passkeys out of the default system store into third‑party password managers. Major services like Bitwarden and 1Password also support CXP-based migration, letting users shift passkeys between devices and apps. Google, despite backing CXP, lagged on implementing similar capabilities in Google Password Manager. That gap is now closing. Once enabled for everyone, Android’s new passkey import export layer should bring it in line with Apple’s ecosystem and leading password managers, at least among providers that support CXP. Early indications suggest transfers may initially be limited to a list of participating services, but established players such as Google, Apple, and Samsung are already on board. For users, this emerging parity means fewer lock‑in worries and more freedom to choose the tools they prefer.
Why Passkey Portability Matters for Users and the Industry
Passkeys are widely seen as the successor to passwords, thanks to phishing resistance, stronger cryptography, and simple biometric sign‑in. But until there is reliable password manager portability, many people hesitate to commit, fearing they’ll be stuck with whatever ecosystem they start in. Google’s upcoming support for passkey export Android side directly addresses that concern. Being able to move passkeys between Google Password Manager and competing apps removes a major switching cost and aligns with broader efforts from Google and Apple to make device transitions smoother, including copying apps, files, and traditional passwords. As passkey import export becomes standard across platforms and password managers, users gain true ownership of their credentials. That flexibility is likely to speed up the decline of conventional passwords, as people can adopt passkeys knowing they won’t lose control if they later decide to change devices, platforms, or security tools.