This hidden Android setting means I never type my PIN at …

My phone stays unlocked when I am driving or at my home, and it’s brilliant.

Tashreef's fascination with consumer technology began in the school library when he stumbled upon a tech magazine, CHIP, which ultimately inspired him to pursue a degree in Computer Science. Since 2012, Tashreef has professionally authored over a thousand how-to articles, contributing to Windows Report and How-To Geek. He currently focuses on Microsoft Windows content at MakeUseOf, which he has been using since 2007.

With hands-on experience building websites and technology blogs, he brings practical developer insights to his technical writing. You can view his complete work portfolio at itashreef.com. You might also stumble upon his short how-to video explainers, simplifying complex topics. Beyond writing, Tashreef enjoys creating short explainer videos, gaming, and exploring animated shows. An average person unlocks their phone 80 to 110 times every day.

I probably unlock mine a bit more because my work involves testing phones, reviewing them, and fiddling with apps constantly. I've already configured my lock screen security with the fingerprint sensor and face unlock to make things easier. But even then, I'd prefer not having to unlock my phone again and again when I'm at home. Fortunately, Android has a built-in solution that not many people know about.

Extend Unlock keeps your phone unlocked when you're in a pre-defined trusted zone and then automatically locks it when you step out or come to a halt, depending on how you configure it. After enabling it, I don't type my PIN at home anymore. Unlocking your phone doesn't take long, but there are moments when reaching for it becomes a small annoyance that breaks your flow. I have sweaty hands, so the in-display fingerprint scanner on my phone sometimes drives me up the wall.

I also have face unlock enabled, so that should cover me, right? Not really. Face unlock isn't practical when my phone is flat on my work desk, and I just want to respond to a WhatsApp message or interact with Google Assistant without picking it up first. Or when I'm riding my motorcycle with Google Maps running, or driving with my phone connected to the car's Bluetooth, the last thing I want is to fumble with unlocking my phone.

Extend Unlock aims to solve this by keeping your phone unlocked after you've unlocked it once, as long as you're in a trusted situation. You can set it to stay unlocked at specific locations like your home, when connected to a trusted Bluetooth device like your car stereo or smartwatch, or while it detects that you're carrying it. The feature isn't new. It's a rebrand of the older Smart Lock, which Google has improved with better accuracy.

Smart Lock failed more times than it worked for me, but Extend Unlock has been noticeably more reliable. In the past year, since I enabled it, it hasn't failed me more than a handful of times. That said, one important thing to note is that it only keeps your phone unlocked after you've already unlocked it once. It won't automatically bypass your lock screen when you arrive at a trusted place or connect to a trusted device.

Extend Unlock is disabled by default on every Android phone, but you can turn it on quite easily. You do need a screen lock set up first, a PIN, pattern, or password, otherwise the option won't even show up. On Pixel phones, open Settings, tap Security & privacy, then tap Device unlock. You'll see the Extend Unlock option here. Tap it, unlock with your current PIN or pattern when prompted, and you'll see three options: On-body detection, Trusted places, and Trusted devices.

On Samsung Galaxy phones, steps are slightly different. Head to Settings, tap Lock screen and AOD, then tap Extend Unlock. Follow the on-screen instructions, and you'll land on the same three options. Once you're in, I'd recommend starting with Trusted places. Tap it, enable the toggle, then tap Trusted places again to add a location. You can search for your home address or pick it from the map. Once set, your phone will stay unlocked whenever you're at that location after you've unlocked it once.

For Trusted devices, tap the option and then Add trusted device. Pick a paired Bluetooth device from the list, like your smartwatch, car stereo, or wireless earbuds, and your phone will stay unlocked whenever that device is connected. Keep in mind that Bluetooth range varies depending on your surroundings, so walls and distance can affect whether your phone detects the trusted device. Regardless of which option you pick, your phone will require your PIN, pattern, or password again after four hours of inactivity or after a restart.

As convenient as Extend Unlock is, it does come with security trade-offs you should be aware of. On-body detection, while useful, can't tell who's carrying the phone. If someone grabs your unlocked phone while you're walking and keeps moving, the phone won't lock because it still senses motion. It only locks when it detects it's been set down. That said, if you have Android's theft protection features enabled, the Theft Detection Lock can automatically lock your device when it detects a sudden snatching motion, which fills this gap nicely.

Trusted places mean your phone stays unlocked in that entire zone, so anyone who picks it up at your home or office gets full access until it leaves the area. The location detection can also be finicky at times, as minor GPS drift can sometimes cause it to lock when you're still at home or stay unlocked when you've stepped just outside the boundary. Trusted devices have a similar issue. If your trusted Bluetooth device is something shared, like a car stereo or office speaker, anyone near it could potentially access your unlocked phone.

And if someone steals both your phone and the trusted device, the lock screen protection is essentially bypassed. None of these are deal-breakers, but they're worth understanding. Make sure your lock screen security settings are properly configured as a baseline, because Extend Unlock is only meant to complement your existing security, not replace it. Extend Unlock isn't a feature I'd recommend blindly to everyone.

If you live with people you don't fully trust with your phone, or you're in environments where your device could easily be picked up by someone else, the trade-offs might not be worth it. For added peace of mind, you can also turn on Android 16's Advanced Protection to layer on more aggressive security measures on top. But for my use case that involves working from home, riding with my phone on the handlebar, or driving with it connected to my car, the convenience far outweighs the risk.

I've been using it for over a year, and not having to type my PIN every time I glance at my phone at home has removed a tiny but constant friction from my day.

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