Skip to main content

Android gets a smart new security feature from Google

android can now automatically lock itself when you put your phone down body
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you’ve got a phone running the latest and greatest 5.1 Lollipop version of Android, then you might want to check the security settings menu. Google is rolling out a new type of ‘smart lock’ that protects your phone when you put it down but saves you having to enter your PIN while you’re carrying it.

Called “on-body detection”, it’s been added to the Smart Lock menu for some handsets running the newest Android 5.1 update. Smart Lock can be used to disable the PIN or pattern login method when a recognized location is reached (e.g. your home) or a recognized Bluetooth device is connected (e.g. the stereo in your car).

Recommended Videos

Now on-body detection gives users a new way of keeping their apps accessible. “Just unlock once and your device stays unlocked as long as you keep holding your device or carry it on you,” says the splash screen for the feature. “Anytime you set your device down, the device locks because it’s no longer on you.”

Please enable Javascript to view this content

It’s been reported by some users over at Android Police and I’ve seen it appear on my own Nexus 6. It seems likely that the update arrives as part of Google Play Services, rather than through an OS update, because it’s not yet appearing on all devices running Android 5.1. Google hasn’t made a public announcement so it’s not clear if particular handsets are required to be able to use the feature or whether older phones will get it too.

It looks like the perfect option if you don’t want the hassle of unlocking your phone every two minutes but you still want protections in place if you put your device down somewhere. If Google has anything official to say about the new feature then we’ll add it here.

David Nield
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
Google boosts Android security against unknown tracking devices
Unknown tracker alert for Android.

Google is adding a couple of new features to Android’s safety alert system that will help users find unknown trackers moving with them. The new features cover all tags and tracking devices that support Google’s Find My Device service for locating lost hardware.

The first one is Find Nearby. This one will help users locate any hidden tracker. For example, if your Android phone flashes an unknown tracker alert, you can check for its presence using the Play Sound feature.

Read more
Google’s December 2024 Pixel Drop just arrived with a boatload of new features
Someone holding a Google Pixel 9.

It’s December, and that means a big new update for your Android phone, as well as even more goodies if you’re a Google Pixel user.

Google is officially rolling out its December 2024 Pixel Drop, and there's a lot to go over. From new features for all Android users to a few things exclusive to Pixels, here's the lowdown on what's new.
New features for all Android users

Read more
Google is preparing a cool new feature for its Pixel Recorder app
The Voice Recorder app running on the Google Pixel 7 Pro.

Smartphones are great tools for voice recording, whether it’s a simple voice memo or even an interview. If you have a Pixel phone, then the Pixel Recorder app is about to get a lot more useful with a new “Clear Voice” feature discovered in the latest update's Android Package Kit (APK).

With Clear Voice, the Pixel Recorder app will “reduce background noise while recording for clearer speech playback.” Basically, it will keep human speech while removing unwanted and distracting background noise. The feature was found via 9to5Google in some strings in version 4.2.20241001.701169069 of the Pixel Recorder app.

Read more