The recent disruption in Google Chrome’s password manager feature has caused inconvenience for a significant number of users, lasting for almost 18 hours. The incident, which began on July 24, 2024, at 15:36 (US/Pacific) and was resolved on July 25, 2024, at 09:27 (US/Pacific), affected approximately 2% of users on the M127 version of Chrome Browser on the Windows platform.
The root cause of the issue was attributed to a change in product behavior that lacked the necessary feature guard. Google’s engineering team swiftly deployed a fix to address the problem and recommended users to restart their Chrome Browser to ensure the resolution takes effect. The company issued a public statement apologizing for any inconvenience caused and assured users that a comprehensive incident report would be issued soon to provide insights into the issue’s root cause.
Throughout the disruption, Google Workspace’s status dashboard provided regular updates to keep users informed about the progress in resolving the issue. The company acknowledged the impact on users who were unable to find or save passwords in Chrome’s Password Manager and reassured them that the engineering team was actively working on deploying a fix for all affected users.
To help users regain access to their passwords, Google suggested a workaround that involved launching Chrome with a specific command line flag. By adding the “–enable-features=SkipUndecryptablePasswords” flag to the Chrome shortcut, users could temporarily address the issue until the fix was fully implemented. The workaround provided step-by-step instructions on how to modify the Chrome shortcut to enable this feature.
As of July 25, 2024, at 16:27 (UTC), Google confirmed that the issue had been fully mitigated for all affected users. The company expressed gratitude for users’ patience and assured them that they were actively monitoring the situation to ensure a seamless resolution. For users seeking additional information or support related to Google Workspace services, Google advised visiting the Google Workspace Status Dashboard or contacting Google Workspace Support for assistance.
In conclusion, Google’s prompt response to the Chrome Browser password manager disruption highlights the company’s commitment to addressing technical issues swiftly and efficiently. By providing regular updates, offering workarounds, and eventually resolving the problem for all affected users, Google demonstrated its dedication to ensuring a positive user experience. As the incident is thoroughly investigated and a detailed incident report is prepared, users can rest assured that Google is taking the necessary steps to prevent similar issues in the future.