How to Log into Websites in Two Taps with Google Chrome's New Feature

CJ Robles, Tech Times 20 July 2020, 10:07 am

A new experimental Google Chrome feature aims to speed up the login process on websites.

According to Tech Radar, the new "Touch to Fill" feature eliminates the need to type passwords and usernames. It is currently available only in Chrome for Android, but hopefully, it will soon be offered to iOS and iPadOS.

This confirmed Tech Radar's report earlier this week that Chrome will become like a password manager that allows users to edit and manage the users' saved passwords directly. This would be a great time saver as users no longer need to log into their Google account to make necessary changes.

By default, this new feature will be supported under Chrome 84 for Android. The Chrome update was launched last July 14. According to 9to5Google, Chrome 84 supports the one-time password API, which allows the browser to automatically enter the 2FA code sent over SMS to the default messages app. Chrome will then slide up a panel, so the user can "Allow" the code to be automatically filled. However, it would depend on websites if they would support this feature.

However, with the "Touch to Fill" feature, the password will be filled in when the user touched the username field. While the passwords auto-fill feature has already been available for users' opt-in, Chrome has now added by default.

According to Chromium, the change would allow Touch To Fill by default. The note said: "This change enables Touch To Fill by default. TTF will be launched in M84, so this change also cleans up experimentation code and removes branding messages, which will no longer be needed."

Touch to Fill: How it works

While it is quite exhausting to log in numerous websites, having the login credentials automatically filled in would be a great help. Here is how to take advantage of the "Touch to Fill" feature.

For Chrome Beta for Android

When using Chrome Beta for Android, the Touch to Fill feature is already up and running. This means when users visit any website, they can click on the username field, and an option to "Continue with account" would appear from the bottom.

Tap on the Next button, and the password will be auto-filled. While there is an option to manage passwords at the bottom, tapping on "Sign in" will log the user into the account.

For the release Chrome version

While it still not automatically available on this version, users can try it early by choosing to activate the appropriate flag, which switches on experimental features. In the address bar, type in Chrome://flags and look for the "touch-to-fill" feature.

Click on the drop-down menu and simply choose "Enabled" from the options. Users may then proceed with their login process. However, not all websites are currently supporting the feature while no list is provided yet of which ones allow the feature.

Regardless of what version of Chrome we use, Touch to Fill feature would make our lives much easier. After all, managing passwords can be such a task.