The "AutoComplete" function it is a tool that saves us a lot of time. Establish communication with the apps that we have installed on the mobile and fill in the forms, entering the relevant passwords with the data previously stored in the service to remember Google passwords. How can we activate it on our Android phone?
Form autocompletion on Android works through Google's own password manager, although it is also compatible with other password managers from third parties. Unfortunately, it is a tool that is only available for terminals with Android 8.0 or higher.
If we have an updated version of our operating system and we are tired of entering the passwords incorrectly through forgetfulness (it is not easy to remember them all, of course), this is the way to activate the "Autocomplete" function on our smartphone.
How to enable the "Autocomplete" service on Android to fill in forms and remember passwords
Although it may not jump out at first glance, the autocomplete tool is available within the system settings. To activate it we will follow the following steps (there may be slight differences depending on your brand and model of smartphone).
- We are going to "Settings -> System”.
- Click on "Languages and text input”.
- Within "Text input assistance" we select "Autocomplete service”.
- In this last menu, we make sure to leave the "Google”.
Here we will also have the possibility of adding an external password manager by clicking on "Add service". Currently, the only supported apps are Enpass, LastPass, Dashlane, Keeper, and 1Password.
How to save login credentials
Now that we have the autocomplete service active, let's see what are the fields and values that this tool contemplates.
- We are going to "Settings -> System”.
- Click on "Languages and text input”.
- We click on the cogwheel icon next to the "AutoComplete Service" button.
Here we can establish the Google account on which we will use the autocomplete. By default the system will take our main email used to configure Android (Google Play, email etc.).
If we still do not have an associated email, click on «Account». Next, we enter the email account where we want all the data and passwords to be stored.
In addition to this, here we will also see the rest of the fields where the autocomplete function is used:personal information, addresses, payment methods and passwords.
One tip: check these fields to make sure that all the data collected is correct.
How to make use of the autocomplete function
Once the service is activated, we can only make use of it. From this moment on, when we fill out a form or log into a web page, service or platform for the first time, the system will give us the option to save the credentials.
If we decide to save them, they will be stored in our Google account or in the password manager that we are using (in case we use a third-party app to manage our personal passwords). Thus, the next time we access the autocomplete service, it will fill in the corresponding fields for us.
How to see the "remembered" passwords that we have stored in the phone
If, after having used Autocomplete for a while, we want to know which are the users and passwords that we have saved on our mobile (Chrome, Android), we just have to follow the following steps:
- We are going to "Settings -> System”.
- Click on "Languages and text input”.
- We click on the cogwheel icon next to the "AutoComplete Service" button.
- Click on "Passwords”.
Here we will see listed all the keys and logins remembered by the autocomplete service. From this same menu we can view all passwords, copy or delete them.
It does not hurt to go through this section from time to time. We will surely discover some web page that we no longer visit, or passwords and logins that we would prefer to enter by hand for security.
Remember that here are all the passwords for Chrome and other browsers so we may want to limit automatic access to certain web pages.
Do the passwords I use on my PC also appear here?
It is likely that you activated the autocomplete service a few moments ago and you already see a good number of previously stored passwords. What's going on?
The truth is that if we use Chrome in the browser on our desktop or laptop with the same Android account, it is normal for something like this to happen. Autocomplete forms and passwords are synced regardless of the device we are using (PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet or TV Box).
It is quite practical, since we avoid having to remember the passwords again to access sites that we had previously visited. Imagine that you have registered for an online programming course from your home PC, and now you are in class and you need to consult some information about that course but you do not have the password at hand. With the synchronized autocomplete function we can access without entering any data even if we are browsing from the mobile. Something that has saved my skin personally on more than one occasion.
What do you think? Do you use autocomplete regularly or do you spend a lot of this type of service?
If you found this article useful, do not hesitate to take a look by the category Android, where you will find other similar posts that are very interesting.
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