If you’ve ever signed up for an app and then spent the next five minutes hunting for a six-digit code buried in your inbox, you know how painful the process is. I especially despise the magic sign-up link that websites send, as they sometimes fail to work if my default browser isn’t Google Chrome.
Thankfully, Google is fixing that with a new verified email credential for Android, and it’s a genuinely smart solution.
So what’s actually broken with OTPs?
The humble OTP has been the backbone of email verification forever, but it comes with real problems. You leave the app, open your inbox, find the email, copy the code, and come back.
It’s a long process that not only hurts consumers but also app developers. The number of steps required may cause a user to leave the app mid-sign-up, meaning the app loses potential users before they even try it.
iOS fixed this issue by directly allowing users to sign in via Apple account. Recently, it also added a feature to autofill OTPs from emails, just as Android supports OTP autofill from messages.
Now, Google is also creating a seamless signup process that doesn’t require users to jump between apps.
How does the new system work?
Google now issues a cryptographically verified email credential directly to Android devices through the Credential Manager API. When an app needs to confirm your email, it can pull that credential directly using the Credential Manager API.
A small prompt appears on screen showing what information is being requested. You tap to confirm, and the app gets your verified email. No switching apps, no codes, no delay.
Google recommends pairing this with passkey creation, so the first sign-up becomes the last time a user has to do anything manual.
The same can also be used for account recovery and re-authentication of sensitive actions, including setting changes, updating profile details, and more.
The best part is that the new feature supports Android 9 and later devices, so you don’t need the best new Android smartphones to enjoy this quality-of-life improvement.
Are there any restrictions?
There are a few restrictions. The feature currently works only with regular consumer Google Accounts, not Workspace accounts. It also only works with Gmail accounts, and not with third-party email accounts that you might have used to create your Google account.