Google now lets you store Covid vaccine certificates and test info on Android device

• Google has rolled out support for storing Covid vaccination and testing information on Android devices.
• These Covid cards will be stored locally and require a PIN to ensure they are safe.
• Users will not have to download an additional app to add and store their Covid cards on Android devices.
• Smartphones running Android 5.0 Lollipop or later are all compatible with this new feature.

Android users can now store COVID-19 vaccination and test certifications on their devices natively without downloading any additional apps. The feature rollout has begun in the USA and will be enabled for other countries in the near future.

Google has started enabling this feature using its Passes API (application programming interface), allowing users to store their Covid cards – including vaccination certificates and testing data – in a local and secure manner.

Google notes that these Covid cards are not stored in users’ Google accounts, given the sensitivity of the information.

It is worth noting that while users will not have to download any app for this, the government and health agencies will have to use Google’s Passes API to format and allow users to store the digital versions of these cards.

How to store Covid cards on Android phones

Covid cards can be added to devices with Android 5.0 Lollipop or later. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to your healthcare provider’s website and click on the ‘Save to phone’ option. Its availability and location will vary from one provider to another.
• Now, you will be asked if you want to save the card with Chrome or Google Pay. Select Google Pay.
• Once you do it, the Covid card will be saved to your device.
• To find it, go to Settings -> Google -> Account services -> Google Pay.

It is worth noting that this feature is currently only available in the US. Google said it plans to launch it in other countries, but availability will also depend on your respective healthcare provider signing up for the Passes API.

Why are Covid cards important?

Given that vaccine passports are becoming a reality in one form or the other, having Covid cards with vaccination and testing information stored on users’ devices will enable quick and easy verification.

For instance, vaccine passport rollout has begun in the European Union. Israel, Singapore, Japan among others have either rolled them out or in different stages of the process.

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