How to keep your Android phone unlocked at home

TL;DR

• Google Smart Lock offers you many practical unlocking functions for your smartphone.
• Examples: Keeping your phone unlocked at home or not displaying an unlock code with your favorite Bluetooth headphones.
• Despite not being a new feature, it is far too unknown.

Do you unlock your smartphone with a classic unlock code, a pattern, or immediately via fingerprint sensor? On the road with friends or in public, locked smartphones provide more security and even in case of theft, it's hard to steal your data as well. However, all these things are less relevant when you're lying on the couch at home.

• Forgotten your unlock pattern? These options are available now

At home, it can be a pain to unlock your phone. If your phone has a fingerprint sensor on the side or on the back, for example, you will always have to hold it in your hand to unlock it. Regardless of the scenario, Google offers an useful feature called "Smart Lock" that does exactly what the name says: intelligently unlocks your phone.

How to use Google's Smart Lock

Smart Lock can be found in various Android overlays in different places. However, you should find the feature under the term Smart Lock in the Android security settings. Alternatively, use the search in your phone's settings, if there is one! Once there, you have to enter your password or unlock pattern for security reasons. Now you have three options:

1. On-body detection: uses various sensors on your phone to detect when you carry the phone in your pocket after unlocking it. If you then place it on a table, for example, it is automatically locked again.
2. Trusted places: Here, your phone remains unlocked based on your location. In addition to your home address, you can also specify other locations - such as your work desk - via GPS.
3. Trusted devices: Particularly practical in connection with headphones, smartwatches, or your stereo system at home. As soon as a trusted device is connected via Bluetooth, your phone remains unlocked. Possibly also handy for car drivers who use the phone as a navigation device!

The settings within these three options should be self-explanatory, so I won't go into them further. Before I ask you for your opinion in the comments, one more security note:

Even though "Smart Lock" is quite handy, all three features decrease the security of your phone. Although there is little chance that a thief will drive by your house after stealing your phone and unlock it, they are still unlocking options that work without your intervention.

But now: Did you already know about Smart Lock and do you use the function? Let me know in the comments!