Google Password Manager on Android Finally Lets You Import and Export Passkeys

If you’ve been waiting for a smoother way to back up or shift your passkeys, the wait might finally be over. Earlier this year Google whispered that its Password Manager on Android would start supporting passkeys – the cryptographic, phishing‑proof replacements for traditional passwords. Now, the company appears to be taking the next logical step: a built‑in import and export function.

What does that actually mean for the everyday user? In plain English, you can now pull your saved passkeys out of Google’s vault – either as a handy file you can store on your computer or as a bundle you can hand over to another password manager. Likewise, if you’ve been keeping passkeys in a third‑party app or on a different platform, you can feed them straight into Google’s manager without re‑creating each one by hand.

To get started, open the Password Manager app (or navigate to Settings → Google → Autofill → Passwords) and look for the new “Passkeys” tab. Inside, you’ll see two clear options: “Import passkeys” and “Export passkeys.” Tapping Export will generate a JSON‑styled file – think of it as a digital key ring – which you can then move to a secure location, such as an encrypted drive or a cloud storage folder with strong access controls.

Import works much the same way. Choose the file you’ve prepared, confirm the source, and Google will quietly add each credential to your Android device’s secure enclave. The process is protected by your device’s biometric lock (fingerprint, face, or PIN), so no rogue app can just slip in a bunch of keys unnoticed.

There are a few caveats, though. At the moment the feature is limited to Android 12 and newer, and it only handles passkeys that follow the WebAuthn standard – the same spec that underpins Apple’s iCloud Keychain and Microsoft’s Passwordless solutions. Traditional passwords stay in the old CSV‑style export format, which Google already supports.

Why is this a big deal? For one, it removes a major friction point when switching phones or moving from a niche password manager to Google’s ecosystem. It also gives security‑conscious folks a reliable fallback: if you ever lose access to your Google account, you’ll still have a copy of your passkeys that you can import elsewhere.

From a privacy standpoint, Google insists the file never leaves your device unless you explicitly share it, and it’s encrypted at rest. Still, the usual advice applies – treat the export file like a treasure chest and store it in a location only you can reach.

Overall, the addition feels like a natural evolution. Passkeys are still gaining traction, but as more services adopt them, tools that let you manage the keys without a headache become essential. Google’s move may not be the flashiest headline in the password‑less world, but for anyone juggling multiple devices, it’s a quietly welcome upgrade.