Having a strong and unique password for each online account is important for security, but it can be difficult to remember all those complicated passwords. Luckily, Google can save your passwords and autofill them when you need to log in. This article will explain how to view, edit, and manage the passwords saved in your Google account.
Why save passwords in your Google account?
There are several benefits to saving passwords in your Google account:
- Convenience – Google can automatically fill in saved passwords so you don’t have to remember or type them each time you log in.
- Security – Storing passwords in your Google account means you don’t have to use simple, reused passwords that are easier for hackers to guess.
- Syncing – Saved passwords will sync across any device where you’re logged into your Google account, like your phone, tablet, and computer.
- Generating secure passwords – Google can automatically generate strong, unique passwords when you save new logins.
Overall, saving your passwords to your Google account enhances both convenience and security.
Where are my saved passwords stored?
When you save passwords in Google, they are encrypted and securely stored in your Google account. The passwords are synced across any device where you are logged into your Google account, but they are never stored directly on your device.
Your saved passwords are only stored in your personal Google account – they are not accessible to Google employees and are not used for advertising purposes. Google also allows you to delete any saved passwords that you no longer need.
How to view and edit saved passwords
Here are the steps to view, edit or delete passwords saved in your Google account:
- Go to https://passwords.google.com and make sure you are logged into the Google account that has the saved passwords.
- On the left side, click “Passwords” – this will display a list of all websites where you have saved login credentials.
- To view the username and password for a site, click the 3 dot menu icon next to the site name and select “Details”.
- To edit the username or password, click on the relevant field and make your changes, then click “Save” at the bottom.
- To delete a saved password, click the 3 dot menu icon and select “Delete”. Confirm the deletion.
This allows you to view, update or remove any passwords saved in your Google account as needed. Important: Make sure not to edit passwords to less secure options.
How to add new saved passwords
When you login to a new website or app for the first time, Google will automatically prompt you to save the password to your Google account. Just click “Yes” when prompted.
You can also manually add new passwords to your Google account using the following methods:
Turn on password syncing in Chrome
- Open the Chrome browser on your computer.
- Click the 3 dot menu icon in the top right and select “Settings”.
- Select “Autofill” on the left side.
- Toggle on “Offer to save passwords”.
Now whenever you login to a new website in Chrome, it will prompt you to save the login to your Google account. Click “Save” when prompted to store those credentials.
Use the passwords website
- Go to https://passwords.google.com and login.
- Click the “+” icon to manually add a new password.
- Enter the website name, username, and password. You can also let Google generate a secure password for you.
- Click “Save” to add that login to your saved passwords.
This allows you to manually add new passwords anytime directly from the passwords website.
How to use Google to autofill passwords
Once you’ve saved passwords in your Google account, Google can automatically fill in those details any time you need to login to those websites. Here’s how it works:
Autofill in Chrome
If you are logged into Chrome with your Google account, saved passwords will automatically pop up when you click into the username and password fields on sites you’ve visited before.
You can also click the password autofill icon in the username field to view your list of saved logins for that site, then click the one you want to auto-populate.
Autofill in Android
If you are logged into your Google account on an Android phone or tablet, saved passwords will automatically fill when you go to log in to an app or website.
You can also manually go to Settings > System > Autofill service from Google to view and select passwords to fill into apps.
Autofill in iOS
First make sure you have the Google Smart Lock app installed and that you are logged into your Google account. When logging in, tap the password field and select “Smart Lock” to view your saved logins.
You can also access AutoFill Passwords from your iOS Settings to view and fill saved passwords.
Important security practices
While saving passwords in your Google account provides convenience and security, there are some best practices you should follow:
- Use a strong, unique password for your Google account itself. This protects all your saved passwords.
- Add secondary authentication like 2-Step Verification to your Google account for extra security.
- Don’t edit saved passwords to less complex options – maintain strong passwords when possible.
- Periodically review saved passwords and remove any you no longer use. Less is more secure.
- Make sure to logout of websites and your Google account when using public or shared devices.
- Monitor the security alerts on your Google account and contact Google Support if you see any suspicious activity.
Other password management options
Saving passwords in your Google account is convenient, but there are also dedicated password manager apps that provide advanced security and features such as:
- Password generation and autofill across more sites and apps
- Secure password storage and encryption
- Sharing passwords securely with other users
- Password audit and health reports
- Digital wallet storage for credit cards and identity
- Emergency access for family members
Popular password managers include Dashlane, LastPass, and 1Password. These provide robust protection for all your passwords and logins.
Conclusion
Saving your passwords in Google allows convenient access across all your devices while also strengthening your security. Make sure to use strong passwords whenever possible and follow good account hygiene for optimal safety.
With Google’s automatic syncing and autofill, you’ll always have your passwords handy when logging in on the web and across your apps. Review your saved passwords occasionally and remove any unused ones. Use Google’s password manager as part of an overall good security approach.