A brand new possibility coming to Pixel telephones in Android 16 is the flexibility to make use of the fingerprint sensor when the display screen is turned off.
In Android 16 DP2, Google is including an possibility for “Screen-off fingerprint unlock.” This permits customers to start out utilizing the fingerprint sensor even when the display screen is totally off. This was one of many solely actually new options added in Android 16 Developer Preview 2, as different seen adjustments had been primarily beauty.
This change seems to solely be supported on the Pixel 9 collection, as we had been capable of finding the choice in Settings search on a Pixel 8 Pro, however the possibility doesn’t really present up to be used. More than possible, that relates again to the brand new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor Google is utilizing in its newest gadgets, versus the optical one used beforehand. With the earlier tech, the sensible drawback of leaving the fingerprint sensor energetic always was that the sunshine may very well be triggered by mistake, which is usually jarring in a darkish atmosphere. No gentle is concerned with ultrasonic, making {that a} extra seamless expertise.
Of course, this performance has technically all the time existed for these utilizing always-on show (AOD) settings, because the fingerprint sensor, even the optical ones, continues to be out there at any time when the time is being proven (which helps keep away from the jarring gentle from optical sensors). This new possibility is primarily helpful for many who should not utilizing AOD.
On Pixel 9, the brand new setting is accessible by means of Settings > Security & privateness > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock, solely if in case you have Android 16 Developer Preview 2 put in.
More on Android 16:
Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram
FTC: We use revenue incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.
