The recent Android 16 Beta 3 (and Beta 3.1) release updates a feature limited to the Pixel 9 and allows all devices from the Pixel 6 and newer to use fingerprint unlock while the screen is off.
Spotted by Android Authority, if you are currently running the latest Beta on your device, the option can be found by heading Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock. In this menu, the new “Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock” toggle is available on Pixel if you want to be able to enter your device using the biometric security method even if the screen is powered off.
One of the major benefits of this function is that the screen stays dark when you unlock so that at night, you’re not dazzled when the fingerprint scanner lights up. The Pixel 9 utilizes an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, so the ability to use this feature doesn’t require your finger or thumb to be illuminated by LEDs to be read. On the Pixel 6 through to the Pixel 8 – and the upcoming Pixel 9a – utilize an optical scanner that requires your digits to be illuminated to process your biometric information.
It’s not clear how it works due to this, but according to the original report, this is working on the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7 Pro. It could be that the Pixel under-display LEDs around the fingerprint scanner are dimmer (or dimmed) to account for the active screen-off toggle. However, this may result in less accurate unlocks. Until we test this for ourselves, we are not entirely sure.
The demo below shows this in action in the early Android 16 Developer Previews on a Pixel 9 Pro device:
More on Android 16:
- Android 16 Beta 3.1 rolling out with Pixel performance, crash fixes
- Android 16 beta hints at return of custom icon shapes, new notification panel, more [Gallery]
- Android 16 Beta 3: ‘Limit to 80%’ will fully charge your Pixel every 1-2 weeks
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