Android introduces a new feature to keep users logged in to apps when switching to a new device. This is achieved through the Credential Manager API's new Restore Credentials feature.
When users sign in on their old device, a restore key is saved to Credential Manager. This key is encrypted and stored locally and/or in cloud backups. During the restore process, apps and restore keys are transferred to the new device. Upon launching the app for the first time, the restore key is used to sign users back in automatically.
The restore key transfer process requires no developer effort, as it's tied to Android's backup and restore mechanism. However, developers can implement a "backup agent" for silent logins before the app is even opened. This feature is available on Android 9+ and is currently in developer preview.
This seamless login experience is similar to what's offered by Google TV Streamer, ensuring users can quickly access their content on a new device. While this feature focuses on app logins, other Google services like Google Maps Timeline also leverage local and cloud storage for data persistence. For developers, this new API simplifies the process of user onboarding, unlike some complex methods used in tools like Pokémon Go cheats.