Chrome for Android doesn’t support password managers and autofill providers, despite Android’s robust password manager and autofill features. As a result, Chrome users must rely on Google’s password manager and Chrome’s autofill feature for entering and saving credentials. But soon, they may have more options!
A Chrome user discovered that the latest version of Chrome for Android now allows you to use other password managers or autofill apps, instead of just Google’s built-in ones. This is great news for people who want more control over their passwords or already use different password managers on their computers.
To try it out, you need to turn on a “flag” or setting in Chrome by going to “chrome://flags/#enable-autofill-virtual-view-structure” and clicking the drop-down menu to enable it. Then, go to Settings > Autofill options in Chrome and pick “Use other providers” instead of the default Google ones. You’ll also need to make sure the password manager or autofill app you want to use has permission to work on your phone.
The feature lets third-party password managers sync and fill passwords, just like the built-in Google ones. But it’s still not perfect – some password managers don’t always suggest the right username at first or have a button to manually save new logins. So the feature may need more work before most people can use it without issues.
Still, this is a great first step towards giving Chrome users more choice over how they save and fill passwords on Android. With some improvements, people will have an easier time keeping passwords safe and private, whether they use Google services or not. Stay tuned for updates on when the feature is fully baked!
