Google has added automatic password migration between different managers to Android, closing one of the most vulnerable points in a user's everyday digital hygiene. Previously, switching password providers almost always meant exporting data to an unencrypted CSV file, saving it on the device or in the cloud, and then importing it into the new service — a chain in which passwords could fall into the hands of a malicious actor at every stage. The new mechanism performs the transfer directly on the device within seconds and requires no files to be downloaded onto the smartphone, significantly reducing the risk of a leak.
How automatic migration works
The process is built on three steps. First, the user opens the new password manager and selects the option to import or copy data from another provider, after which the app hands the task over to the operating system. Next, Android itself scans the installed apps, finds existing password managers with synchronized data, and displays a list of available import sources. After tapping “Continue,” the system redirects the user to the old manager to verify their identity and authorize the transfer, after which the data migrates securely between the apps in a matter of seconds.
Security and the move away from CSV files
The key difference of the new approach is the absence of an intermediate unencrypted file. Because the data transfer happens inside the device under the OS's control and only after explicit confirmation in the source manager, passwords never leave the secure perimeter and are never written to disk in plain text. Google emphasizes that the feature was designed so that the user has full control over their own digital data and can switch services at any moment without losing access to their accounts.
Which services already support the feature
At the time of the announcement, the transfer is supported by Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden, and Dashlane. For other developers, the option is provided to connect their own implementation later via the Credential Transfer API, so the list of compatible apps is, according to the company, set to grow.
Availability: Android 8.0 and Google Play Services
The tool works on top of Google Play services and is available on all certified devices running Android 8.0 Oreo or newer versions. That is exactly why owners do not need to wait for a full-scale update of the entire operating system: the feature is rolled out through the service layer, which speeds up its delivery to end users on different smartphone and tablet models.
