Chrome users can now easily utilize passkeys, digital credentials that eliminate the need for passwords when signing into apps and websites.
Starting today, Google Password Manager in Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux allows passkeys to automatically sync across all devices. Passkey syncing is also available on Android, with iOS support coming soon and a beta version on ChromeOS.
Google enhances security with the addition of PINs to Password Manager. A PIN or device lock code is required to access passkeys on new devices, providing an extra layer of security. Users can choose between a six-digit PIN or a longer alphanumeric one.
Product manager Chirag Desai highlights the importance of these recovery factors in securely accessing and syncing passkeys across devices in a blog post.
Passkey usage is increasing, with statistics from the FIDO Alliance showing that half of people have enabled passkeys on accounts, and 20% of the top 100 websites support passkeys. Google introduced passkeys as the default sign-in method in 2023 and extended support to its Advanced Protection Program for high-risk targets before the U.S. presidential election.
