Autofill in Chrome on mobile can do more. It will also fill in passports or driver's licenses from Google Wallet

Google this week began expanding autofill in Chrome on phones. On both Android and iOS, the browser can now pre-fill travel and personal documents, which it pulls directly from Google Wallet.

What new information will Chrome’s autofill now provide?

Until now, Chrome on phones could mainly pre-fill names, addresses, loyalty cards, or flight details. Now, more sensitive documents are being added – according to Google, the browser can fill in passports, driver’s licenses, and the so-called Known Traveler Number, an identifier from the American TSA PreCheck program. Flight check-in and parking payments are also being added.

It works straightforwardly: when you enter a piece of information in Chrome for the first time, the browser will offer to save it to Google Wallet. The next time you visit a form, it will then fill it in for you – but only when you confirm it. If you already have the document in your wallet, Chrome will take it directly from there.

We wrote about the first wave of improved autofill last December – back then, it mainly concerned addresses, loyalty cards, and flight details.

Autofill in Chrome on mobile can do more. It will also fill in passports or driver's licenses from Google Wallet Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

What about user data?

When it comes to identity documents, the question of security is pertinent. Google states that Chrome will only save or fill in data with your permission and encrypts sensitive information. What the browser has stored can be edited either in Google Wallet settings or directly in Chrome in the “Autofill and passwords” section. According to the company, identity documents also have their own controls.

Mostly theoretical in the Czech Republic for now

However, it’s important to remain realistic here. Storing identity documents in Google Wallet is currently tied to selected markets – according to available information, Google supports digital passports in the USA, Britain, Singapore, Taiwan, and Brazil, and driver’s licenses in selected US states. The Known Traveler Number is also data from an American system that a typical Czech traveler will not use. In the European Union, the company is only just launching document storage via partner banks.

Autofill in Chrome on mobile can do more. It will also fill in passports or driver's licenses from Google Wallet Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

For a Czech user, this practically means that smarter autofill for common data – addresses, loyalty cards, or flights – will be usable here, while the impressive new features concerning passports and driver’s licenses are currently aimed mainly abroad. Once Google Wallet expands document support to our country, this part of autofill will arrive with it.

Do you fill in sensitive data in Chrome, or do you prefer to type it manually?

Sources: Google, GSMArena