Biometric safety — the power to unlock your cellphone together with your fingerprint or face — is a tremendous characteristic, however you usually should activate the cellphone’s display earlier than you need to use it. That’s as a result of many fingerprint sensors are optical and wish gentle with a purpose to work. Fortunately, Android 16 will make it as a way to open your Pixel 9 with out turning your cellphone display on in any respect (whereas additionally avoiding the groan that comes from searing your eyes.)
The characteristic was famous within the Android 16 Developer Preview 2, or DP2, by 9to5Google. The findings indicate that this solely applies to the Google Pixel 9 sequence as a result of whereas it does seem within the Settings search on the Pixel 8 Pro, there’s no choice to allow it. This is probably going because of the Pixel 9’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner; the improved {hardware} doesn’t require gentle to make use of it.
If you’re a part of the Android 16 DP2, you’ll be able to allow this characteristic by going to Settings > Security & privateness > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock. Just observe that if you happen to aren’t a part of the developer preview, you gained’t discover this feature.
If you’re utilizing an older Pixel system, you’ll be able to allow the always-on show to realize an identical outcome. As lengthy because the time is being proven, even when that’s the solely factor being proven, the optical sensors are nonetheless lively and dealing. It helps keep away from the equal of a flashbang grenade being thrown into your bed room within the early mornings once you flip in your cellphone. This new characteristic can be helpful to people who don’t wish to use the always-on show setting, however nonetheless need fast entry to the fingerprint sensor.
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Android 16 DP2 additionally launched just a few extra modifications, however most have been comparatively minor. While it isn’t a make-or-break choice for many customers, the power to unlock your cellphone together with your finger with out turning on the display is a giant win for comfort.
