Every time we create an account to shop or access a service, we should create a unique, strong password. To make it easy, Chrome suggests strong passwords and gives you the option to save your username and password in Google Password Manager. So, the next time you need to log in, Google can automatically fill them in for you.

Google Password Manager works on PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, iOS/iPadOS devices, and Android devices (any device that runs the Chrome web browser). You can also use Google Password Manager to auto-fill usernames and passwords outside of the Chrome app on Android and iOS devices. Moreover, Google Password Manager can sync across all your devices, provided you are logged in with the same Google account. Here's how to use Google Password Manager on all of your devices.

How to use Google Password Manager on a computer

How to install and set up Google Password Manager on a computer

1. Download and install Google Chrome.
2. Open Chrome and sign in to your Google account. If you don't already have one, create a Google account.
3. In Chrome, click on the triple-dot menu icon.
4. Select "Settings."
5. Click on "Autofill."
6. Select "Password."
7. Toggle on "Offer to save passwords" and "Auto Sign-in," which will automatically fill in your username and password for any site you have saved.

How to add passwords to Google Password Manager on a computer

Whenever you visit a new website and create a new account or change a password for an existing account, Chrome will ask whether you wish to save the credentials in the password manager. You can save multiple combinations of usernames and passwords for a single website.

You can also add passwords to Google Password Manager without visiting the website.

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the triple-dot menu icon.
3. Select "Settings."
4. Click on "Autofill."
5. Select "Password."
6. Click on the "Add" button
7. Fill in the URL, username, and password and click on "Save."

How to use Google Password Manager autofill on a computer

After saving a password to Google Password Manager, your Chrome browser will automatically fill in your username and password. If multiple passwords have been saved for a website, they will appear in a dropdown list.

How to look up passwords in Google Password Manager on a computer

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the triple-dot menu icon.
3. Select "Settings."
4. Click on "Autofill."
5. Select "Password."
6. Click on the eye icon (Preview) next to the account you want to view. Enter your computer password, and you will see the password.

How to edit, copy, and delete saved passwords on a computer

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the triple-dot menu icon.
3. Select "Settings."
4. Click on "Autofill."
5. Select "Password."
   • To edit a password, click on the triple dot menu icon next to the password you want to edit, and then select the "Edit password" option. Enter your computer password, and you can view and edit the URL, username, and password.
   • To copy a password, click on the triple dot menu icon next to the password you want to copy, and then select the "Copy password" option. Enter your computer password, and you will be able to copy the password.
   • To delete a password, click on the triple dot menu icon next to the password you want to delete and hit the "Remove" button.

How to use Google Password Manager on Android devices

How to set up Google Password Manager on an Android device

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Click on the triple-dot menu icon.
3. Select "Settings" and ensure you're signed in to your Google account.
4. Select "Passwords."
5. Toggle on "Offer to save passwords" and "Auto Sign-in" to automatically fill in your username and password for any site you have saved.

How to add passwords to Google Password Manager on an Android device

Whenever you create a new account on a website or change your password, Chrome will ask you whether you want to save the credentials in the password manager. You can save multiple combinations of usernames and passwords for a single website.

If you want to add passwords to Google Password Manager without visiting the website, you'll need to use the Chrome browser on your computer as outlined above.

How to use Google Password Manager autofill on an Android device

After saving a password to Google Password Manager, your Chrome browser will automatically fill in your username and password. If multiple passwords have been saved for a website, they will appear in a dropdown list.

To have Google Password Manager autofill outside of Chrome, you'll need to set up Google to autofill:

1. Open Settings
2. Select "Google."
3. Select "Autofill."
4. Select "Autofill with Google" and then "Continue."

When you need to sign into an app, you'll see a pop up to sign in with Google Smart Lock. In our testing, we did not find that Smart Lock worked every time. You'll then need to copy and paste by viewing your login information as described below.

How to look up, copy, edit, and delete passwords in Google Password Manager on an Android device

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the triple-dot menu icon.
3. Tap on "Settings."
4. Tap on "Passwords."
5. Tap on the account you want to view.
   • To view a password, tap on the eye icon (Preview). Then, enter the PIN code for your phone, and you will see the password.
   • To copy a password, tap on the copy icon. Then, enter the PIN code for your phone, and you will see the password.
   • To edit a password, tap on the eye icon (Preview). Enter the PIN code for your phone, and you will see the password. Delete the old password, enter the new password, and tap on the "Done" button.
   • To delete a password, tap on the garbage pail icon.

How to use Google Password Manager on iPhones and iPads

How to install and set up Google Password Manager on an iPhone or iPad

1. Download and install the Google Chrome app.
2. Open the Chrome app and sign in to your Google account. If you don't already have one, create a Google account.
3. Tap the triple-dot menu icon in the lower right corner.
4. In the icon bar, scroll to and tap on "Settings."
5. Make sure you're signed in to your Google account.
6. Select "Passwords."
7. Toggle on "Offer to save passwords."
8. If you want to use Google Password Manager to autofill passwords outside of the Chrome app, tap on "Passwords in Other Apps." Tap on "Open Settings." Select "AutoFill Passwords" and select "Chrome." You can autofill from Chrome and iCloud Keychain.

How to add passwords to Google Password Manager on an iPhone or iPad

Whenever you create a new account on a website or change your password, Chrome will ask you whether you would like to save the new credentials in the password manager. You can save multiple combinations of usernames and passwords for a single website.

If you want to add passwords to Google Password Manager without visiting the website, you'll need to use the Chrome browser on your computer as outlined above.

How to use Google Password Manager autofill on an iPhone or iPad

After saving a password to Google Password Manager, your Chrome browser will automatically fill in your username and password. If multiple passwords have been saved for a website, they will appear in a dropdown list.

You can add Google as a method of auto filling outside of Chrome.

1. Open Settings
2. Select "Passwords."
3. Select "Auto-Fill Passwords."
4. Select "Chrome." You can choose to autofill from iCloud Keychain and Chrome, if you've already saved passwords into your iCloud Keychain.

In our testing, we did not find that autofill worked every time. You'll then need to copy and paste by viewing your login information as described below.

How to look up, copy, edit, and delete passwords in Google Password Manager on and iPhone or iPad

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click on the triple-dot menu icon.
3. Tap on "Passwords."
4. Tap on the account you want to view.
   • To view a password, tap on the eye icon (Preview). Then, use Face ID/Touch ID or enter the PIN code for your phone, and you will see the password.
   • To copy a password, press and hold the password and select copy. Then, use Face ID/Touch ID or enter the PIN code for your phone, and the password will be copied.
   • To edit a password, tap on "Edit." Use Face ID/Touch ID or enter your phone's PIN code and then delete the old password and enter the new password.
   • To delete a password, tap on "Edit." Then, use Face ID/Touch ID or enter your phone's PIN code and select "Delete."

Is it safe to store passwords in Google Password Manager?

Google Password Manager doesn't match other password managers in security because two-factor authentication isn't turned on by default and Google's two-factor authentication isn't as strong. For your Google Account, you can authenticate via text message. Hackers can steal your phone number via phone porting and intercept your two-factor authentication code. With dedicated password managers, logging in with a new device requires a special code from one of your existing devices. So even if someone gained access to your password manager login, they wouldn't be able to use it.

Google keeps you logged in to your account until you sign out, whereas other password managers time out. So you can log into your computer at the beginning of the day and have full access to everything stored in Google Password Manager without logging into your Google account again. That also means that if you leave your computer unattended and unlocked, someone could easily access any account you saved in Google Password Manager by browsing the site with Chrome. And if a person knows your computer password, they can easily view your stored usernames and passwords.

What Google Password Manager also lacks is the ability to store information beyond a username and password. So, you can't securely store other important information, like answers to account security questions, account recovery keys, and PIN codes.

The bottom line, though, is that if you use strong passwords for your computer and Google accounts and keep your computer locked when you're not using it, Google Password Manager does provide security for your passwords. And, since it's so easy to use, you'll be more likely to protect your accounts with strong, unique passwords. However, if you tend to leave your computer on and unlocked or you want the option to store secure notes, you're better off with a dedicated password manager like Dashlane, LastPass, and 1Password.

[Image credit: Screenshots via Techlicious, laptop showing Google Password Manager via Techlicious/Smartmockups]

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar has been writing about technology for more than two years. Previously, he was a staff writer at Guiding Tech and TechWiser. He loves working out, having a cup of coffee, and playing guitar.