Chrome 131 on Android will improve autofill using third-party password managers

Abner Li | Oct 17 2024 - 11:58 am PT

Google is updating Chrome for Android next month with native third-party autofill support when using an alternate password manager.

Related: Android makes me (almost) hate using a password manager – Google needs to fix it

Previously, autofill in the Chrome browser used a “compatibility mode” that resulted in janky page scrolling, “potentially showing duplicate suggestions from Google and a third-party,” and other glitches.

After work got underway earlier this year, Chrome 131 will “allow third-party autofill services to natively autofill forms giving users a smoother and simpler user experience.” This includes passwords, passkeys, addresses, payment data, and other stored information.

If you’re already set a third-party autofill service in the Android 14+ Settings app > Passwords, passkeys & accounts menu, open Chrome > Settings > Autofill Services. You then select “Autofill using another service” and restart the browser.

Chrome 131 is currently in beta and requires that you first enable this autofill flag for the improved password manager support:

chrome://flags#enable-autofill-virtual-view-structure

Version 131 for Android will hit stable channel starting November 12:

Chrome plans to stop supporting compatibility mode in early 2025. Users must select Autofill using another service in Chrome settings to ensure their autofill experience is unaffected. The new setting is available in Chrome 131. You should encourage your users to toggle the setting, to ensure they have the best autofill experience possible with your service and Chrome on Android.