Android 16: Pixel Users Get Fingerprint Unlock, Even Without Finding The Sensor

Starting with the Pixel 6 range, which was released in 2021, under-display fingerprint sensors have been incorporated in all Pixel devices. The screen must be on for the operational existence of this particular biometric feature, which otherwise is not present in most smartphones. 

The same objective alights for the feature under-display for fingerprint scanners placed inside the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9a.

Last year, when the Pixel 9 series was launched, Google announced the Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock feature under Android 16 Developer Preview 2. However, with the launch of Android 16 Beta 3, grace is now offered for all Pixel devices embedded with under-display fingerprint scanners and running the latest Android 16 Beta. 

Until this feature is taken back by Google before releasing the stable Android 16 update during the next quarter, people who are always a little sceptical about using Beta software will need to expect the feature along with the stable build of Android 16.

With it, users can unlock their Pixels with a fingerprint even when the screen is off. For those people who do not like to wait until the stable Android 16 comes out or feel a bit apprehensive about trying a Beta build, there’s a trick to make it work because the display will be at least partially active. Activate the always-on display for the Pixel by going to Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen and checking “Always show time and info.” One would need to do this to get it happening.

In this way, users can simply hold their finger over the space in the display where the fingerprint scanner is located, even with the screen turned off, to unlock their phones.