Google Password Manager gets dedicated home, notes support

Google has announced a bunch of new features for its Password Manager tool built into its Chrome browser. The company is making it easier to access saved passwords while also adding support for biometric authentication on the desktop. The service is gaining password “notes” support as well.

For starters, Google’s Password Manager is getting a dedicated section in the Chrome menu on the desktop. You don’t need to go into Settings to find your saved passwords. You can also access all your saved online credentials by clicking “Manage passwords” in the autofill dialog box. Typing chrome://password-manager/passwords in the URL bar will also take you to the Password Manager. You can bookmark this URL for quicker access. Chrome now lets you create a desktop shortcut for Password Manager as well. The Chrome Android app already offers this function.

Biometric authentication is another feature Google is bringing from Chrome mobile apps to the desktop version. Once enabled, Chrome will require you to a password autofill prompt using your fingerprint, fingerprint recognition, or any other biometric function supported by your computer. It adds another layer of security to your saved credentials. Google says this feature is “coming soon,” though it didn’t provide any timeline.

Meanwhile, Google’s Password Manager now offers annotation support. You can attach a note to your saved password to add some context. This feature comes in handy when you need to distinguish between two separate accounts for the same website or when you need to pair an additional PIN or security question/answer with your password. You can add notes when saving a new password or go to the Password Manager to edit existing passwords and notes. Chrome lets you view notes when logging into a website by clicking the key icon.

Google Chrome now lets you import passwords from other password managers

These features bring Google’s free Password Manager in Chrome closer to other dedicated services. And if you’re willing to switch to it, the tool now supports importing passwords from other password managers as a .csv file. Last but not least, the Chrome app for iOS is getting an improved Password Checkup feature that can flag weak and reused passwords along with passwords compromised in data breaches. It is also getting a bigger autofill prompt and now groups multiple accounts for the same website together for easier access. These new Password Manager features will roll out to users globally in the coming months.