How Google’s Verified Email Feature Simplifies Android App Sign-Ups
In Focus
- Google’s Verified Email feature confirms user email addresses instantly
- The tool does not support Workspace or supervised email addresses
- The one-tap signup only verifies gmail email addresses
- The feature is designed to complement the “Sign-in with Google”option
Google is changing how app sign-ups work on its Android platform. The tech giant is shifting from conventional verification methods such as email links and OTPs, and is introducing a new Verified Email feature on Android called Credential Manager. The tool supports instant user email address confirmation on apps through a secure credential stored within the device.
New Feature Streamlines User Authentification
Through a secure, on-device verified credential, Google’s verified email process supports a one-tap sign-up process that is faster, more reliable, and secure. If adopted widely, the new feature could change the way apps authenticate users and eliminate the need to switch between from one app to another during sign-ups.
“By integrating the new verified email via the Credential Manager API, you can reduce onboarding friction and provide a more streamlined and secure authentication flow. This reflects a shift toward a future where verification becomes a seamless part of the native mobile experience,” Google’s Senior Developer Relations Engineer, Niharika Arora noted.
Google’s one tap sign-up only works with personal gmail accounts. The feature does not include Workspace accounts or other supervised accounts. It operates on tablets, foldables, and phones that run on Android 9 and above. On Google Play, the feature runs on version 25.49.x or later.
How Does Android’s Faster Sign-Up Work
When an app needs to verify user identity, the developer receives a verified email claim directly. The system sheet outlines the information that an app is requesting. This could be their verified email or profile picture. Once this is done, a user can send the data to the app immediately by tapping the “Agree and Continue” button to move forward.
The email claims that developers receive can be used for account recovery, creation, or authentication flows. While the verified email address is securely drawn from the Google Account on a user’s device, the underlying Digital Credentials API is not linked to a single provider.
The API supports an open ecosystem, allowing any credential issuer that includes an email claim to provide verification that apps can request and confirm. During authentication, the verified email credential is drawn from the user’s Google Account on the device.
What to Note About Google’s Android Signup
It’s important to note that the one-tap signup only verifies gmail addresses, which Google is already enhancing with Gemini AI. Apps can request additional profile information, but these fields are not verified. Google recommends directing users with custom domains through existing verification steps to ensure access for domains not managed by Google.
The verified email credential feature is designed to complement “Sign-in with Google”. Developers should use “Sign-in with Google” when setting up login sessions. Verified Email is ideal for authentication flows where users sign-in with username and password or a passkey, and still require their email address confirmed.
