Extend Unlock speeds access to your Android phone

I spend a lot of time in my apartment alone, so I don't need my Android phone to constantly auto-lock. Rather than leaving it unlocked all the time, I configure phones to remain unlocked in certain locations. What used to be called Smart Unlock is now Extend Unlock, a change Google made in 2023, and this option works much better than the original.

Extend Unlock keeps your device unlocked when it's with you: when you're holding it, when it's near home or another trusted place, or when your watch or another trusted device is nearby. You can choose one or more of those options and it's straightforward to set up.

To enable Extend Unlock you need an Android device running version 14 or newer. Open Settings (from the App Drawer or by pulling down the notification shade twice and tapping the gear icon at the bottom right), then go to Security & Privacy > More security & privacy > Extend Unlock and enter your PIN.

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