Reddit is now testing Google and Apple account login options for its site, with mixed results. That’s according to reports circulating, indicating that some users are now seeing the feature appear live.
As would be expected, users who have access to Google and Apple account-linking for Reddit now see a completely different login UI on the site. As shown in the associated images, that now houses a larger pop-out box. The option to sign-in to an account via email and password is still there. But there are also now two square-shaped buttons above that interface.
Those read “Continue with Google” or “Apple” alongside the companies’ respective icons.
The user account details and profile settings page is updated now too, for those users. Under testing, that now includes prominent buttons to “Connect to” either Google or Apple — or both. Reddit placed those under “Connected Accounts” alongside the Twitter button in Account Settings.
What’s the benefit and why is one login still broken?
The advantages of signing into a site or service with a Google or Apple account are obvious. First, from the user perspective, it gives account holders a one-click solution to signing in. It also stacks up an additional layer of security, since the Google or Apple account will need to have been breached before sign-in.
On that second point, the feature is useful to Reddit as well. That’s because the integration allows the company to provide easy login options via Google and Apple. And that, in turn, provides an added layer of security — almost acting as a two-factor authentication method.
For now, the feature is still somewhat broken for Google accounts though.
The problem seems to be linked with the Reddit sign-up process, in particular. When signing in with a Google account, it automatically creates a brand new Reddit account rather than linking the account. That’s problematic for users who have already signed up with the same Google account for traditional logins.
One possible solution, highlighted in the above-mentioned new settings UI, is to simply log in with a password. Or with an Apple account. Then, users can navigate to settings and link the existing account to a Google account manually. That way, both Google and Apple login options will become available associated with the Reddit account in question.
Google and Apple Reddit login probably won’t arrive soon
Given the extent of the above-mentioned issue and the fact that this is still in testing, Reddit won’t likely roll this feature out soon. While, typically, limited testing such as this tends to go fairly smoothly, it hasn’t here. That’s setting aside secondary problems Reddit needs to address — such as integration with existing two-factor authentication. So Reddit still has its work cut out for it.
It’s also not immediately clear whether the login options are available for the mobile app variant of the Reddit.
If the issues can’t be addressed, the popular app and social content distribution site may end up abandoning the logins entirely. But, for now, the feature appears to be making progress.
