Google is updating Chrome for Android next month with native third-party autofill support when using an alternate password manager.
Update 2/7/25: Support for third-party password managers has been delayed to Chrome 135. This was due to “feedback from autofill service developers,” with Google also taking the time to fix bugs and “make the new setting easier to discover.”
- An ability to query Chrome settings and learn whether the user wishes to use a third party autofill service
- An ability to deep link to the Chrome settings page where users can enable third-party autofill services.
The new setting to select another password manager is now coming in Chrome 135.
- March 5th, 2025: Chrome 135 beta is available
- April 1st, 2025: Chrome 135 is in stable
- Summer 2025: Compatibility mode will no longer be available on Chrome
Original 10/17/24: 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.
More on Chrome:
- How to permanently save tab groups in Google Chrome
- Google Chrome’s extension upgrades break uBlock Origin
- An early look at Chrome for Android’s bottom address bar [Gallery]
- Desktop Chrome’s Google Password Manager can now save passkeys, no more QR scan
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