Securing your Android device doesn’t have to be a hassle, as users can now add the Google Password Manager to their home screen with a few simple steps.
Passwords are your first line of defense against hackers and cyber criminals trying to gain access to your personal information. Unfortunately, people do not take password best practices seriously, even though the average user has more than 100 passwords to keep track of on a daily basis.
There are services that can make password usage a bit more secure, though, and Google is doing its best to make them as accessible as possible, and we’re here to walk you through the process.
How to Create Google Password Manager Shortcut on Android
If you use a Google device, you’re probably acutely familiar with the Google Password Manager. It frequently pops up when trying to log in to apps, and you’ve likely secured some passwords on it, whether you meant to or not.
However, because the actual password manager is buried underneath a mountain of settings menus and phone interface, getting access to it beyond pop-ups has not been easy. Fortunately, that just changed, as Google has made a concrete shortcut that will make checking on your online security that much easier.
As for how to get the shortcut on your home screen, just follow these quick steps and you’ll be on your way to more accessible security.
- Click Settings
- Head to the Privacy menu
- Click Autofill service from Google
- Select Passwords
- Click the Settings cog in the upper right corner
- Select Add shortcut to your home screen
- Position the Password Manager shortcut on home screen
And that’s it! You’ll have a handy, easily accessible Google Password Manager icon right on your home screen, so you can take a look at how well set up you are to protect your information online.
Do You Need a Password Manager?
If you religiously follow password best practices, you probably don’t need a password manager. That means all of your passwords are more than twelve characters long, you’re using unique passwords for every account, and you check whether or not your passwords have been compromised in a security breach on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, most people don’t do this. The most common password of 2021 was “123456” and 85% of users admit to using the same password for multiple accounts. Simply put, the odds of having a secure account without following these best practices are slim.
Fortunately, password managers are designed to tackle this problem head on. They store your passwords securely, ensure you have unique passwords for every account, and alert you when a password has been compromised. For more information, check out our best password managers guide to see what kind of options are out there beyond Google’s built-in option.
