Android 15, Wear OS 5 make it easier to sign in to apps with a passkey

Google is making it easier to sign in to apps and websites with Android 15 and Wear OS 5. For eligible Galaxy smartphones and smartwatches, the One UI 7 and One UI Watch 6 updates make signing in to apps and websites smoother, respectively.

The company’s mobile platform will introduce a single-tap sign-in process that integrates account selection and biometrics on a single screen.

Android 15 and Wear OS 5 show a simplified screen to sign in with a passkey

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

With Android 15 and Wear OS 5, you’ll see one screen instead of two where you can choose your Google Account, passkey, or password to sign in to an app or website. On the next screen, you can choose a biometric method (face, fingerprint, or PIN) to verify your identity.

For app developers, the Credentials Manager API automatically enables this new feature. Additionally, your login credentials (passkey, password, or Login with Google) from Credential Manager will automatically appear in your Google’s Her Gboard app. Please note that this feature will be available on Android 15 and Wear OS 5.

Samsung already supports passkeys on smartphones and tablets, enabled through its own Samsung Wallet app that comes pre-installed on Samsung devices. Watch the video about One UI 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. The app can now add the restored passkey to the Credential Manager and it will be saved offline. If cloud backup is enabled, you can transfer those passkeys to your new device during setup.

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