Google Smart Lock and iOS Keychain are two features that have been around for a long time on both systems, yet some people still don't know about them. Even worse, some people do know about them but don't know how to access them when needed. Therefore, let's take a look at what they are and how to use both password management systems.
Password managers integrated in iOS and Android
Password managers aren't new, and we should all be using one. There are dedicated third-party apps that, in their paid versions, usually offer a lot of value with very strong security systems, synchronization across devices and platforms, and more. Even so, both iOS and Android have been offering their own solutions for years: Google Smart Lock and iCloud Keychain.
Thanks to this, storing the passwords of the web services you access as well as the apps you use is very simple. Once you activate both options, everything you save will be copied to your respective Google or Apple account and will be synchronized with the rest of the devices where you are logged in.
To activate this in Android terminals you just have to go to Settings> Accounts> Smart Lock for passwords. You have to take into account that some customization layers could change the nomenclature or access, so if you can't find it, use the search engine.
If what you want is to have access to the iCloud keychain, you must enter your user account and then activate the use of the keychain from Settings> Username> Keychain.
Done, from this moment on for any password you enter on a website or application you will be given the option to store it in these management systems, they will be synchronized with all the devices you use with the same Google or iCloud account and you will be able to forget to remember them . But what happens if you want to access a service where these passwords are not synchronized. Well, it's very easy, you can check them through another device or the web itself in the case of Google.
How to view stored passwords in iOS
iOS, on both iPhone and iPad, stores all your passwords in your iCloud account if you choose, which is very useful when you're on another device and can't remember which one you used. To access them, simply go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts.
When you log in, the first option you'll see is " Website and App Passwords ." That's where all your login information is stored. To access it, you'll be asked to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or enter your PIN. Once inside, your information will be organized alphabetically, giving you access to everything.
How to see the passwords stored in Google Smart Lock
Unlike iOS, when using Google Smart Lock, passwords are stored in your Google account but are not visible on your device. Or rather, they are not accessible through a menu in the settings like passwords are in iCloud.
Therefore, if you want to know the password you used to log in to a web service or one of the installed Android applications, you will have to go to the web address password.google.com.
Once there, by logging in with your Gmail account, you will be able to access all the data and allocate it as you wish. For example, consulting that password that you need, the username or eliminating the items that you no longer need from the registry.
Yes, it is true that it is not the most comfortable option but it is not a problem to have to visit a website either. And it is very convenient to have all the passwords accessible without having to pay or install third-party solutions.