Google's latest move allows Android users to forget some passwords forever

Google announced todaythat starting with the Pixel handsets, you can verify your identity with some Google services on the web by using your fingerprints or a screen lock instead of a password. While the Pixels will get this new feature today, over the next few days it will be pushed out to Android devices running Android 7 Nougat and higher. Using the FIDO2 standard, designed to improve authentication on the web (as opposed to on an Android app) users will only have to register their fingerprint or screen lock on their phone once to use it for a native app or the compatible Google services sites on the internet.

Google points out to those worried about privacy, that fingerprints are never sent to Google's servers and are stored securely on the user's phone. Google's servers do receive proof that you correctly scanned your fingerprint via a message that is disguised using cryptography. And you can test out how well this new system works by running a little test on your Android device. First, your device must be running Android Nougat or higher and contain your Google Account. The device must have a valid screen lock like a fingerprint scanner, a PIN or a pattern lock. Then, you follow these directions:

So what is the advantage for Android users? Glad you asked. You won't have to worry about having to remember a password when signing onto certain Google services sites on the web. That means that the part of your brain that stored these passwords can be freed up for more important things like pop culture trivia.

There is nothing you need to do to set this up on your Android phone. So just sit back and clear your mind of some passwords that you won't need to remember any longer.