Introduction
Google Chrome’s built-in password generator is a convenient feature designed to enhance your online security by creating strong, unique passwords. This guide will help you understand how to use the Chrome password generator, how password suggestions work, and how to manage these generated passwords across different platforms. The steps follow Google’s Manage passwords in Chrome help page.
How Password Suggestions Work
When you sign in to Chrome and then create a new account on a website, Chrome can suggest a strong password for you. The suggested password is saved to your Google Account automatically, so you do not need to remember it.
Steps to Turn On Password Saving
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Navigate to Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager, then select Settings on the left.
- Ensure the option Offer to save passwords and passkeys is toggled on.
Accepting a Suggested Password
When you are on a website registration page, Chrome will prompt you to use a suggested password.
- Click in the password field and select Use strong password.
- If that option does not show, right-click the password field and choose Generate password.
- Check the preview, then select Use suggested password.
Where Generated Passwords Are Saved
Chrome saves generated passwords in Google Password Manager in your Google Account, so you can use them on your other devices. You can also manage them in any browser at passwords.google.com.
View Saved Passwords
- Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu and go to Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager.
- Under Passwords, select a site to see its saved credentials.
Editing Generated Passwords
If you need to edit a generated password, you can do so in Google Password Manager.
- Navigate to Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager.
- Under Passwords, select the website whose password you want to edit.
- Select Edit, make your changes, and select Save.
Security of Chrome-Generated Passwords
Generated passwords are random and unique to each site. Chrome can also warn you when a saved password shows up in a data breach. Google explains how this works in How Chrome protects your passwords.
Enhancing Password Security
- Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
- Run Checkup in Google Password Manager to find passwords that were exposed in a data breach or are weak, and change them.
Platform-Specific Instructions
Windows, macOS, and Linux
The Chrome password generator works the same way on these desktop platforms. Follow the general instructions above.
Android and iOS
Chrome also offers password generation on mobile devices.
- Sign in to Chrome, open the Chrome app and navigate to a sign-up page.
- Tap the password field, then tap Suggest strong password (Android) or Use strong password (iPhone and iPad).
- Check the preview and tap Use password to accept it.
Conclusion
Using Chrome’s built-in password generator is a straightforward way to bolster your online security. By understanding how to manage and save these passwords, you can keep your accounts both secure and easy to reach.