Google Begins Testing New Password-Free Log-In System

Google is working on a new method for users to log into their accounts without needing to type in their passwords. The U.S. search giant confirmed Tuesday that it is testing a way to allow users to log into its services using only their smartphones and whatever other device they may be trying to access Google services from.

“We’ve invited a small group of users to help test a new way to sign-in to their Google accounts, no password required. ‘Pizza’, ‘password’ and ‘123456’—your days are numbered,” a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch.

Google confirmed the trial after Reddit user Rohit Paul shared screenshots and details of the new sign-in method after being invited to be a part of the experiment.

For this new method to work, Android users first need to authorize their mobile devices to access their Google accounts. After that, if they try to access their Gmail or other Google services from a laptop, for example, they would get a notification on their mobile device. The notification will ask whether to allow the other device, the laptop in this example, access to the account or not. On saying yes, the laptop will log into the Google account without a password being typed.

Google has long wanted to do away with passwords. Two security experts from the company had said more than two years ago that “passwords and simple bearer tokens such as cookies are no longer sufficient to keep users safe.”

However, users can still choose to use their passwords to log in if they so wish, as would be important in scenarios of the mobile device not being functional or accessible. This new method of logging in only works on mobile devices that have password or fingerprint protection to unlock the screen, so that it can’t be misused in case the phone is stolen or lost.

Yahoo and Microsoft already offer similar password-free login options for their users.