Although the process for signing up for a new app has improved in recent years, it has always been frustrating to get everything set up and then have to switch and dig through your inbox for a six-digit code that may have landed in your spam.
However, Google is finally offering a solution. Recently, the tech giant announced a new update to Android’s Credential Manager that allows apps to automatically verify your Gmail address.
Google’s Verified Email is letting you ditch OTP codes
The company states that the app now refers to the new “cryptographically verified email credential,” which is already stored on your Android Device. App developers can also prompt users to create a passkey following the new signup process.
The good news is that in addition to enabling more convenient app signups, Google says that the new Verified Email feature can also be used for account recovery and re-authentication for sensitive actions, such as changing key settings. With this in mind, this should be handy for any daily apps you use (social media) or any vital apps your family uses a lot (security apps, etc.).
One downside of using Verified Email is that it is currently restricted to consumer Google accounts. Essentially, this means that your personal Gmail accounts can use the feature, but if you have a Workspace or managed account, you will need to use legacy verification methods. For Google accounts created without a Gmail address (education, app developers, etc.), Google notes that owners should use an additional verification step to confirm ownership, as account ownership may change over time.
However, you don’t need the latest Android device to get this functionality. Google notes that the feature supports devices running Android 9 or newer and Google Play Services 25.49.xx or newer.
