Skip to main content

Google just made it easier to change your breached passwords

Google is finally making good on its promise to let Google Assistant help users come up with new passwords after they’ve been breached. With a few simple taps, the virtual assistant can take care of setting up a new password in seconds after notifying you that there’s been an issue. The company announced the feature last year, but now the rollout has begun, as Android owners have started spotting the feature on their phones.

Notifications for breached passwords are nothing new; Google Chrome has been pushing them for years. But the process for setting up a new one if breached was a little too involved. Previously, it would require the device owner to navigate to the affected website on their own and reset the password manually. As spotted by Android Police’s Max Weinbach on Twitter, the new Assistant update streamlines that process by bringing the user directly to the password settings of the site with the breached password.

Recommended Videos

Google Assistant being able to change breached passwords >>>>> pic.twitter.com/Dfcnvhs1S5

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) May 3, 2022

Additionally, users are given the option to simply let Google take care of making a password and adding it to their personal password keyring. This type of feature has been around for quite some time, but its implementation in tandem with the updated Google Assistant password feature makes the entire process smoother than ever.

The rollout for the new Google Assistant update seems like it’s going to take a while to become universally adopted. Because each individual website handles password resets differently, they’ll all need to be in conversation with Google about automating their practices. So far, only a handful of websites are compatible with the feature, but as it becomes available to more Android device users, it seems as though more sites will be added.

It’s worth pointing out that the feature will only work in the Chrome web browser app. While the browser is popular, it’s not the only option for Android users, so those wanting to make use of the Google Assistant password feature will need to switch over to Chrome or just make do with the previous ways of handling breached passwords.

If you’re curious about whether your Android phone has the update, you can check by heading to Chrome’s password settings. Once there, some sites will have the Google Assistant bubbles next to “Change Password” instead of the box with the arrow. The bubbles communicate that it’s a site that supports the feature.

Peter Hunt Szpytek
A podcast host and journalist, Peter covers mobile news with Digital Trends and gaming news, reviews, and guides for sites…
I’ll buy the Pixel Watch 4 if Google changes this one feature
The display on the Google Pixel Watch 3.

Personally, the Google Pixel Watch 3 was the success story of 2024. In just three generations, Google debuted the Pixel Watch, a pretty terrible smartwatch, improved it massively for the Pixel Watch 2, and then perfected it with the Pixel Watch 3. And I'll admit, it's a comeback story I wasn't expecting to see. Sure, I'd noticed the Pixel Watch 2 was pretty good, but at no point did I expect it to smash through the glass ceiling in my yearning heart marked "Only Samsung Galaxy Watches here". But smash through it did, and through the shards of raining glass it rose, like an ascending angel.

Alright, so I'm laying it on a little thick. But it's important to note quite how desirable the Pixel Watch has become in the last year. I'm even considering giving up my own hard-earned cash in return for the Google Pixel Watch 4 when it releases later this year. Except, there's one little issue I have with the Pixel Watches, and have had since the beginning. And until that one problem is changed, I can't see myself buying the Pixel Watch 4, or any future Pixel Watch.

Read more
Google Gemini: Everything you need to know
Gemini Live running on Google Pixel 9a.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now. Applications like ChatGPT are in the news almost daily for their advancements, while others like Claude are being used to do everything from drafting cover letters to writing (admittedly bad) novels. Google Gemini is Google's latest foray into that AI arena, replacing Google Assistant in many ways — and it's integrated into numerous mobile devices, like the Google Pixel line of phones.

Understanding what Gemini is and what it can do might seem daunting, but it's easier than you think. It can also greatly simplify specific day-to-day tasks and help you find answers to questions you didn't even know you had, all without reading through pages and pages of articles. Here's everything you need to know to not only start using Gemini, but making it work for you.

Read more
Google Photos can now turn your pictures into Ultra HDR images
Someone holding a Pixel 9 Pro, running the Google Photos app.

It won't be available to everyone just yet but Google Photos has started rolling out a new feature that lets you turn your normal photos into Ultra HDR images. These "High Dynamic Range" photos capture a much wider range of brightness levels and produce images with more detail and color range.

As reported by Android Authority, this feature has been hidden in the app for a while and just recently started appearing for select users. To see the effects of HDR, you need to view your photo on an HDR display. There are plenty of smartphones that have displays like this, such as the Google Pixel 9a, Samsung Galaxy S25, or OnePlus 13R, which will let you appreciate your upgraded photos right on your phone. If your screen isn't HDR, however, you'll still be able to convert your photos and view the results when you put it on a different display.

Read more