Android 16 Developer Preview 3 Reportedly Allows Screen-Off Fingerprint Unlock on All Pixel Telephones

Android 16 Developer Preview 3 (DP3) for Pixel smartphones was launched final week. It provides a brand new characteristic which makes unlocking the telephone with the inbuilt fingerprint sensor extra handy, in response to a report. The characteristic is claimed to permit Pixel customers to make use of the fingerprint unlock sensor even when the display is turned off. It was first launched with the Android 16 DP2 replace in December however was mentioned to be restricted to the Pixel 9 sequence. The newest replace expands the characteristic all Pixel handsets with an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Unlocking the Pixel on Android 16 DP3

At current, the Pixel’s display must be awake to ensure that the in-display fingerprint sensor to operate. Although there is no such thing as a direct choice to allow it, there are some workarounds, equivalent to turning on the always-on show or utilizing the faucet to wake characteristic. However, this limitation is ready to be eliminated with Android 16.

According to an Android Authority report, the Android 16 DP3 provides a brand new setting known as Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock on all Pixel telephones with an in-display fingerprint scanner. The characteristic’s description states that it may be “toggled to use fingerprint unlock even when the screen is off”. Once enabled, customers will have the ability to faucet on the fingerprint reader and it will likely be illuminated, verifying their biometric credentials and unlocking the telephone.

It is reportedly discovered underneath Settings > Security & privateness > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock.

The identical characteristic was first launched in December with the Android 16 DP2 replace. However, the publication studies that the newest replace expands its availability. It is reported to have been examined efficiently on the Google Pixel 6a. While beforehand it required an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor to work, it stays unknown if this standards has been eliminated with the Android 16 DP3 replace. Notably, the Google Pixel 9 sequence are the one Pixel handsets to make use of an ultrasonic sensor. Meanwhile, earlier fashions as much as the Pixel 6 utilised an optical fingerprint reader for biometric authentication.