How to Set Up Google Password Manager's On-Device Encryption for iOS, Chrome, and Android - Gizmodo

Eventually, Google and other big tech companies want to dispense with passwords entirely, but until that day comes, a Google Password Manager feature called on-device encryption might be your best bet for protecting your precious codes.

Though it quietly came out earlier this spring, since you can now easily access Google Password Manager on your Android Home Screen, now’s a good time to check it out.

In short: on device-encryption adds an extra layer of protection and privacy to Google Password Manager by giving you sole possession of the encryption key that encodes and decodes the text for your PWs.

That gibberish can be turned back into readable plaintext, however, using a “key,” which is a randomly generated string of information that is used to unlock encryption.

Google Password Manager has traditionally held onto a user’s key, storing it in the user’s Google account and using it to protect their passwords.

The feature allows users to unlock their passwords using their Google password or by using an eligible screen lock feature of their choosing (PIN or a fingerprint or other biometric identifier).