Google now has a new feature that allows Android users to add the Password Manager shortcut to the home screen of their device.
The Tech Giant offers a built-in password manager in its Chrome browser and the OS which automatically saves and syncs all the user’s login details across devices. This makes logging into various apps and services as simple as tapping on the login box and verifying your identity.
The problem with Google’s offering is that it doesn’t have a native app and only acts as an autofill service compared to other password managers with a standalone app. You’d have to navigate to the “Privacy” section of Android’s Settings menu to be able to access the saved login credentials.
With the new Google Play Services update, you can now add a home screen shortcut to the tool on your Android phone or tablet. Read the following steps on how to add the Password Manager shortcut to your Android phone’s home screen.
- Open your system’s settings.
- Scroll down and select “Privacy.”
- Select the Auto-fill service from the Google option.
- You will now see the Google account and different categories of information stored in the password manager.
- Tap Passwords.
- The login credentials saved in the password manager will show up now.
- Tap the Settings button in the top-right corner.
- Select the “Add shortcut to your home screen” option.
- Confirm the move by tapping Add again.
- The Passwords shortcut should show up on the home screen now.
- If you have multiple Google accounts synced to your phone, you’ll have to select the primary account every time you use the shortcut to open the password manager.
You’ll have the option once you’ve updated to Google Play Services version 22.18.
Last week, we reported that Google is adding a new widget to Google Maps for Android home screens. That is, Android users will soon be able to access Google Maps on their lock screen. Using data from Google Maps that is updated in real-time, the widget shows you where you are and uses red, orange, and green to show how busy the roads around you are. So instead of having to open the Maps app and plan a route to observe local traffic, the widget will give you an overview right on your smartphone’s home screen.
The Tech Giant, last month, also released the first significant update to its core algorithm for the year 2022. Core updates are changes Google makes to improve Search overall and keep pace with the changing nature of the web. Google has advised content managers and webmasters to keep an eye on their Google rankings over the next few weeks.
