Take advantage of Google Password Manager: Easy Access and Desktop Shortcuts

To keep your digital account secure, it is crucial to use complex passwords. However, it is very difficult to remember passwords for many accounts, even with password phrases. Therefore, using a password manager is highly recommended.

Password managers can help store sensitive account information, generate random passwords, and automatically fill in passwords when logging in to apps and websites. But the best features of these services usually require a subscription or in-app purchase.

Google Password Manager is a powerful, convenient and free option. Originally available through the Chrome browser and operating system, it is now deeply integrated with the Android system. The downside is that it is not as easy to access as third-party apps, but the recent Google Play Services update has changed that.

Update Google Play Services

Since the new features are available through Google Play Services, you need to make sure they are updated. On any Android phone model, open the Google Play Store, click the profile icon in the upper right corner of the homepage, and select Settings. Then, select the About section to expand it.

You will immediately see the Play Store version you are currently running and as long as your version is in 22.18 or later (released in June 2022), it should be fine. However, updating to the latest version is always the best choice so that everything can run as smoothly as possible.

Click the "Update Play Store" hyperlink under the current Play Store version and it will tell you if there is an update or if it is the latest version. In either case, click "Know" to continue.

Alternative: Update Google Play System

You do not need to update Google Play services from the Google Play Store app. You can update from the Settings app on your Android phone.

On your Pixel phone, go to the "Safety" menu and click "Google Play System Update". This option contains updates from Google to Android, Google Play Store, and Google Play services. If there are any updates available, click "Restart now".

The process is similar on other Android devices. For example, open Settings on Samsung Galaxy models, click Biometrics and Security, and then click Google Play System Update. If there is an update, click "Download and Install" and then click "Restart Now" after the full download.

Open your Google Password Manager

If you use a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, scroll to Passwords and Accounts, and click on it. At the top below the Password category, click "Google" and then if you have multiple accounts registered, select the appropriate account.

On the Samsung Galaxy model, open the Settings app, scroll and select General Management, and click Password and AutoFill. Under Password, select Google, and then if you have multiple accounts, select the appropriate account.

Alternatively, on Pixel, Galaxy, or other Android devices, you can search for Password Manager from the Settings search bar and jump directly to the Account Selector or Password Manager screen.

Access Password Manager Settings

You are now in Password Manager. As you can see, getting here is not as easy as other password management applications, so let's solve this for future use. Click the gear icon under your profile picture to access settings, then find and click the "Add shortcuts to your home screen" option near the bottom of the screen.

Add password manager shortcuts

In the shortcut dialog box, you have two options: you can long press the widget icon to manually place it on the home screen or in a folder, or you can click the Add to Home Screen or Add button to automatically embed it in the first available location on the home screen. Either way, you can access your password with one click from now on.

Cover photos and screenshots courtesy of Tommy Palladino/Gadget Hacks

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