Remembering passwords can be a complete pain, let alone a security risk, but what if there was a way to access a site without the need for one?

That’s the question Google, Inc. would appear to be addressing with the tech giant now testing password free entry for sign in.

The testing of the potentially new service was discovered by Reddit user rp1226 (Rohit Paul) who was invited to test the password free sign on feature via his Google account.

According to the screenshots Rohit posted and an email he got from Google the feature works through the use of a compatible phone as a conduit for the sign on process; what a compatible phone entails isn’t clear but, in this case, Rohit has a Nexus 6P.

Once the initial part is set up on the compatible phone, a user simply has to input their email address then ask Google to be let in; a notification subsequently appears on the nominated phone asking for confirmation that the user is the person trying to sign in, and then upon confirmation, they are logged in.

This process seemingly applies to any device, so if you were logging in on a laptop the message would still go to the phone for confirmation.

In the event your phone is flat (or you’ve even lost it) the traditional method of using a password is still available so it’s not an either/ or option.

The full email from Google with all the details as follows:

You’ve been invited to try a new way of signing in to your Google account. Setting it up will only take a few minutes.

Enroll your Google Account
Accept the invitation for our Google Group
Go to myaccount.google.com/security
Click the invitation that says: “Tired of typing passwords? Try using your phone to sign in”
Follow the instructions to finish setup

What happens next ?

After you’ve set it up, try it and see what you think. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
You won’t need your password to sign in, but you can always use it if you want to As always, if we notice anything unusual about your sign-in you may be asked to complete an extra step or two to prove it’s really you We might reach out to you to learn more about what you think. You can leave the group if you don’t want us to contact you.

What happens if ?

Your phone’s battery dies or your phone isn’t around

You can still use your password. When you go to sign in, just click the link “Use your password instead” at the bottom of the page

You lose your phone

That’s why you have a screen lock or Touch ID. Even if someone else gets your phone, that person can’t unlock it
Any time you lose your phone, protect yourself by signing in on another device and going to My Account. From there, you can review your device activity and remove account access from the lost device

You want to use a new phone

If you need to change your phone, go to “Sign in and Security” in My Account. Click “Use your phone to sign in” then “Edit” your phone

You decide you want to stop using your phone to sign in

If you decide you’d rather type your password to sign in, go to “Sign in and Security” in My Account. Click “Use your phone to sign in” then “Turn off”

You’re asked to complete extra steps to sign in

If Google ever sees something suspicious about how you’re signing in, you’ll need to complete an extra step or two to prove it’s really you. As we work to improve the experience, you may see some of those changes

You’re wondering if you’ll ever need your password again

For the moment, you’ll probably still need it, just in case your phone isn’t around or we can’t reach it. And if Google ever notices something suspicious about how you’re signing in, we might ask you to enter your password.

The trial has subsequently been confirmed by multiple sites, including VentureBeat who was told by Google that “We’ve invited a small group of users to help test a new way to sign-in to their Google accounts, no password required. ‘Pizza’, ‘password’ and ‘123456’—your days are numbered.”

While perhaps not a foolproof security measure, particularly given there’s no requirement for users to have a lock screen on their phone to provide a layer of security from others accessing it, it’s a solid way of innovating logins that could well be a sign of where things are heading in the space.

If you’re interested in signing up to the service the bad news is that it is invite only at this stage, but expect that to change at some point during 2016.

Image credit: freddy-click-boy/Flickr/CC by 2.0