Pixel Fingerprint Unlock Gets a Major Boost

The world of smartphones is always changing. One of the latest updates is a big deal for Pixel phone users. With the Android 16 Beta 3, all Pixel phones can now use the Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock feature. This means you can unlock your phone even when the screen is off. It is a convenient feature that many other smartphones already offer. This update is a game-changer for Pixel users. Since the Pixel 6, every Pixel phone has had an under-display fingerprint scanner. However, these scanners only worked when the screen was on. This was a bit annoying for users who wanted quick and easy access to their phones. Now, with the new update, the fingerprint scanner will be active even when the screen is off. This makes it much easier to unlock your phone quickly. To enable this feature, you need to go to your settings. Navigate to Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock. Then, find the “when using Fingerprint Unlock” section and enable the Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock toggle. Once enabled, you can press the fingerprint scanner area when the screen is off, and your phone will illuminate and unlock if the correct finger is used. This feature was first introduced in the second developer preview of Android 16. However, it was only available on the Pixel 9 series. With the release of Android 16 Beta 3, the feature is now available on all Pixel phones. This includes the Pixel 6a and the Pixel 7 Pro. It is unclear if this feature will be removed in the stable Android 16 release, but there is no indication that it will be. If you do not want to wait for the official Android 16 release, you can enable the always-on display. This will keep the fingerprint scanner active. However, the best option is to wait for the Android 16 rollout and then enable the Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock toggle in the Fingerprint Unlock settings. This feature will be disabled by default, so you will need to enable it manually. This update is a big step forward for Pixel phones. It makes the fingerprint scanner more useful and convenient. It is a feature that many users have been waiting for, and it is great to see that it is finally available on all Pixel phones. The update is a reminder that technology is always evolving, and companies are always looking for ways to make their products better.