What is Google Password Manager? Definition, AAGUID and Role in WebAuthn

What is Google Password Manager?#

Google Password Manager is a tool integrated within Chrome and Android that helps users securely save, manage, and autofill their passwords and passkeys across websites and applications. This password manager enhances online security by creating strong, unique passwords and passkeys, and protecting them with Google’s end-to-end encryption.

AAGUID of Google Password Manager?#

The AAGUID of Google Password Manager is ea9b8d66-4d01-1d21-3ce4-b6b48cb575d4.

This identifier is used to identify the Google Password Manager as an authenticator in passkey- / WebAuthn-based systems-. Read more about this in the article about AAGUID.

Google Password Manager securely saves and manages passwords and passkeys.
Offers strong, unique password and passkey generation.
Protects passwords and passkeys with Google’s end-to-end encryption.
AAGUID: ea9b8d66-4d01-1d21-3ce4-b6b48cb575d4

Features and Benefits of Google Password Manager#

Google Password Manager simplifies the task of managing online credentials while improving security with several key features:

Easy Password and Passkey Management#

Save Passwords and Passkeys: Automatically save credentials to your Google Account.
Autofill: Seamlessly fill in passwords and passkeys (Conditional UI) on websites and apps without needing to remember them.

Enhanced Security#

Strong Password and Passkey Suggestions: Generate and save strong passwords and passkeys directly within your account.
Security Alerts: Receive notifications for compromised passwords and recommendations for immediate updates.

Handling Your Data#

Privacy and Encryption: Uses industry-leading end-to-end encryption to protect your data from breaches.
Data Collection: Collects minimal data such as page views and crash logs for improving service and reliability.

Passkey Support in Google Password Manager#

Google Password Manager also supports passkeys, a more secure replacement for passwords, on Android and Chrome. Passkeys can be synchronized across devices within the same ecosystem (here: Google Password Manager), improving security and user convenience.

Android and Chrome Passkey Synchronization#

Passkeys created on Android are stored in Google Password Manager and are available to all Android devices linked to the same Google account.
On Chrome, passkeys are used to sign in and are stored locally on macOS and Windows devices without synchronization to other devices (yet).

Google Password Manager Cross-Device Compatibility#

Android: Supports passkeys on devices running Android 9 or higher and can sync them to other Android devices.
Windows: Stores passkeys locally in Windows Hello without synchronization (Google Password Manager displays these passkeys in its settings though).
macOS: Utilizes primarily iCloud Keychain to store and sync passkeys across Apple devices, or stores them locally. When using Chrome passkeys can be stored in the Chrome profile but are not synced to other devices (see Chrome on Mac).
iOS/iPadOS: Uses iCloud Keychain to store and sync passkeys. When using Chrome passkeys can be stored in the Chrome profile but are not synced to other devices.

Pros and Cons of Google Password Manager#

Pros#

Convenience: Built into Google Chrome, requiring no additional installations.
Cost: Completely free to use, providing a cost-effective password and passkey management solution.

Cons#

Limited Functionality: Lacks advanced features like secure password sharing, dark web monitoring, and comprehensive cross-platform synchronization (currently only Android-to-Android supported in syncing passkeys across devices and platforms).

Google Password Manager FAQs#