Several Pixel owners enabled Reddit report noticing the handy “Screen Off Fingerprint Unlock” toggle Settings > Security & privacy > Unlock device > Face & fingerprint unlock > Fingerprint unlock after installing Android 16 QPR2. As the name implies, this feature makes it possible to unlock your Pixel using the fingerprint scanner without waking the screen.
Google initially introduced screen-off fingerprint unlock for the Pixel 9 before expanding to older Pixels as well. But then the option was removed altogether in the final build of Android 16. For now, only Pixel 9 users, including Pixel 9a users, are reporting seeing the option. I also don’t see the switch on my Pixel 8 Pro.
It could come down to the Pixel 9 and newer models using an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. Older Pixels use an optical scanner, which works by passing light through the screen to read a 2D image of the registered finger.
Since this is dependent on the screen lighting, it may not work reliably if the screen is completely turned off, making true fingerprint screen-off unlocking unreliable on those devices.
Although new to the Pixels, the fingerprint sensor works like this on other Android phones. Even when the display is off, the sensor is active. So you can unlock the phone in one quick motion by holding your thumb on the fingerprint area.
If Raise to wake isn’t enabled, Pixels require an extra step to unlock, adding to the complexity of the process.
Enable screen-off fingerprint unlock on older Pixels with this trick
On older Pixels, you can run the following adb command to enable screen-off fingerprint unlock.
adb shell settings put secure screen_off_udfps_enabled 1
Please note that while the feature works, the switch itself will not appear in the Settings menu. Your Pixel’s battery life may also take a bit of a hit, but the convenience should make up for it.
#Android #QPR2 #brings #handy #Pixel #unlock #feature