Google Chrome for Android Retests Biometric Authentication for Password Filling
Google Chrome's Canary build for Android is retesting a feature that requires biometric authentication before automatically filling saved passwords.
Google has initiated another test within the Canary channel of its Chrome browser for Android. This new feature aims to enhance security by requiring biometric authentication, such as fingerprint verification, before the browser automatically fills in saved passwords.
The functionality, found under the experimental flag "Biometric reauth for password filling" in the latest Chrome Canary version (157.0.8083.0), prompts users for authentication after they choose to use a saved password. Successful biometric verification then allows Chrome to proceed with filling the credentials.
This is not the first time Google has experimented with such a feature, with prior tests dating back to at least September 2024. While the capability has appeared in Chrome Dev and Canary builds, it has not yet been implemented in the stable release.
Testing results have been inconsistent, with some users unable to trigger the biometric prompt even after enabling the flag, while others have successfully activated it on older Canary versions. The repeated testing suggests Google's ongoing efforts to bolster password security within its browser.