This Android trick lets me access my phone faster - here's how it works

Source: ZDNet

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Extend Unlock should be a must for Android users.
• Extend Unlock replaces Smart Unlock.
• This feature makes it easier to access your device.

I spend a lot of time in my apartment… alone. Because of that, I don’t need my Android phone to constantly auto‑lock. Since I’m the only one here, I can keep it unlocked whenever I’m at home without worrying that someone might access my data.

To that end, I always configure my Android phone to remain unlocked in certain locations.

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Once called Smart Unlock, this feature was renamed Extend Unlock in 2023. The new security option works much better than the original.

Extend Unlock keeps your device unlocked when it’s with you—whether you’re holding it, at a trusted location (like home), or when a trusted device such as a watch is nearby. You can enable one or more of these options, and the setup is straightforward.

How to enable Extend Unlock

What you’ll need: An Android device running Android 14 or newer.

1. Open the Settings app (tap the Settings icon in the app drawer or pull down the notification shade twice and tap the gear icon).
2. Navigate to Security & Privacy > More security & privacy > Extend Unlock.
3. You’ll be prompted for your PIN.
4. On the Extend Unlock page, choose the options you want and toggle them on:
   • On‑body detection – enable or disable.
   • Trusted place – enable and add a location.
   • Trusted devices – enable and select the device you want to trust.

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After enabling the desired options, your phone will stay unlocked as long as one or more conditions are met. The display may still appear locked, but swiping up will instantly give you access.

The one caveat

I love Extend Unlock, but I need to be careful. I always wear my Pixel Watch, and if I’m out in public with the watch near my phone, the phone will stay unlocked. Because of this, I avoid using the Trusted devices option and rely on On‑body detection and Trusted places instead.

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Give Extend Unlock a try and see if it makes using your Android phone a little easier.