How to Unlock Pixel Without Turning on the Screen
As Google prepares Android 16 for release , users are discovering new and exciting features in various beta versions. The latest one, discovered by Android Authority , allows you to unlock your Google Pixel phone even if its screen is turned off. This is possible on Pixel phones equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor and running Android 16 beta 3.
How to Unlock a Pixel Phone with the Screen Off
Here’s how the new feature works. First, get an eligible Pixel phone, and then update it to Android 16 beta 3 (I’ll tell you how to do that a little later). Then go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Device Unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock and turn on Fingerprint Unlock when screen is off . Now lock your phone and place your finger where the fingerprint sensor is located on the display. This should unlock your smartphone.
Devices that support fingerprint unlock when the screen is off Android 16
Many Android phones already support unlocking using the in-display fingerprint sensor even when the screen is off, but Google Pixel phones have not supported this feature until now. You can use this feature on every Google Pixel phone that has an in-display fingerprint sensor, meaning if you have a Pixel 6 or newer, you’ll have access to it. You’ll need Google’s latest OS, but since Android 16 can be installed on Pixel 6 and newer devices , this isn’t a problem.
Installing Android 16 on a Pixel Phone
Before downloading and installing the Android 16 beta, you should take a complete backup of your device. The beta software is unstable and may cause important apps like the Phone app to stop working. If this happens to you, you may be out of luck, as Google warns that returning to a stable version of Android requires erasing all data on your phone and that restoring from a backup may sometimes be unsuccessful.
Once you’re prepared and you’re comfortable with the risks, visit Google’s Android beta website and select View eligible devices . After that, follow the onscreen instructions to sign up for the Android beta program. That being said, just follow the steps above to start unlocking your phone without turning on the screen first.