Android 15, Wear OS 5 make signing in to apps easier with passkeys

Google is making signing into apps and websites easier with Android 15 and Wear OS 5. Eligible Galaxy phones and smartwatches will get a streamlined experience while signing into apps and websites with One UI 7 and One UI Watch 6 updates, respectively.

The company’s mobile platforms will get a single-tap sign-in process that merges account selection and biometric authentication into a single screen.

Android 15 and Wear OS 5 get a simplified screen for signing in with passkeys

In one of its developer sessions at Google I/O 2024, Google unveiled how it is making Android and Wear OS more secure and easier to use at the same time.

Instead of two screens, Android 15 and Wear OS 5 will display a single screen where you can select your Google account, passkey, or password to sign into an app or a website. You can confirm your identity on the next screen by selecting your biometric method (face, fingerprint, or PIN).

For app developers, the Credentials Manager API will automatically enable this new feature. Moreover, login credentials (Passkey, Password, or Sign In With Google) from the Credential Manager will automatically appear in Google’s Gboard app. Remember, this functionality will be available in Android 15 and Wear OS 5.

Samsung already supports passkeys on its smartphones and tablets, and it’s enabled through its own Samsung Wallet app, which comes pre-installed on Samsung devices. Watch our video on One UI’s pre-installed apps below.

Android 15 and Wear OS 5 can restore passkeys from the cloud

Google is also adding the ability to restore passkeys from the cloud. Apps will be able to add restored passkeys to the Credential Manager, and that will stored offline. If cloud backups are enabled, those passkeys can then be transferred to a new device when it is being set up.

These new features will also be supported by third-party password managers like 1Password and Dashlane.