Android 17 is here for Pixel phones and brings goodies like App Bubbles and Screen Reactions. But for some reason, the App Lock feature was missing. Pixel users have been waiting for a native app lock solution. While Android Canary 2603 surfaced the feature, later Canary builds removed the support. Well, the good news is that Google hasn’t given up on it. Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 reportedly includes hints that suggest the company is still working on the missing app lock feature behind the scenes.
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 hints that Google is still working on the missing app lock
Folks at Android Authority report that in the latest Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 release, Google has added new strings advancing its work on App Lock. The strings signal that users will be able to add App Lock to multiple apps at once through the Settings app. In comparison, in Android Canary 2603, it was possible to lock only through the Pixel Launcher. Most importantly, it allowed locking only one app at a time.
If you wanted to lock multiple apps, things could get slightly clumsy, despite it being a one-time setup. Well, that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore, as new strings hint at simplifying things for users. But then again, it’s still a work in progress.
Rollout timeline remains unclear
Furthermore, in the Canary 2603 release, users could unlock a locked app using their biometrics or PIN. However, the latest strings suggest some changes to this system. In the future, Google might let users disable PIN-based unlocking and use only biometrics to unlock apps, making things even more secure.Â
That said, Android Authority reports that App Lock isn’t available in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6. This means chances are pretty slim that it will be available with the QPR1 stable release. But we’ll keep an eye out and update if we come across more information regarding App Lock.
The post Android 17’s Missing App Lock Feature May Still Be on the Way appeared first on Android Headlines.
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