This has been awaited for years. Android could soon bring app lock

Locking individual applications has been supplemented for years by third-party tools and manufacturer overlays. Now, however, the same function is being prepared directly into Android itself – it was discovered in a test build. Soon, for example, on a Pixel, you will likely be able to better secure communication, banking, or otherwise sensitive apps.

Where do you enable the lock?

The lock is enabled in settings under Security & privacy → App lock. First, the system will ask for a PIN, gesture, or password (if you haven’t set one yet), then you just select the applications you want to protect. From that moment on, the selected application will ask for verification – fingerprint, face, or code – every time it is launched.

The lock, however, doesn’t stop at the login prompt. For a protected application, notification content will no longer be displayed, its widgets and shortcuts will disappear from the home screen, and it won’t even show up in the overview of recently opened applications. Furthermore, you can sort the list of locked items by location, last used, or alphabetically.

What to watch out for?

This will be good to keep an eye on. If you have previously allowed an AI assistant or service access to the data of a given application, the lock apparently won’t stand in their way – they will still be able to access the content. Anyone who wants to completely hide an application should rather opt for Private Space, which removes it entirely from the phone. Google itself, after all, refers to it as a more thorough solution.

This has been awaited for years. Android could soon bring app lock Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

The feature was reported by the editorial team of Android Authority, which discovered it in the test build Android Canary 2608, and Google has not yet said when – or if at all – it will be officially released. It is speculated that Samsung might be faster: it could integrate it into the One UI 9.5 overlay, which is expected for the Galaxy S27 series in early 2027.

Do you already lock sensitive apps using a third-party app, or will you wait for a native solution?

Sources: Android Authority, SammyGuru