Google’s Smart Lock feature has allowed you to unlock your Chromebook with your phone for a while. With the launch of the Google Pixel Watch, you can now use the smartwatch to unlock your Android phone. This feature allows you to unlock your phone by having your watch nearby. We’ll show you how to enable this feature and what to do if it doesn’t work.
How to activate Smart Lock
Before you start, make sure you’ve set up your Pixel Watch and enabled Bluetooth on both devices. Once you’ve done this, you won’t need the Pixel Watch for these steps. All you need is your Android phone’s Settings app.
- To open Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Safety.
- Press More security settings at the bottom of the screen.
- Press Smart Lock at the top of the screen.
- Press Reliable devices.
- Press Add trusted device.
- Select Google Pixel Watch from the list
- Press Add from the pop-up window.
Your phone will remain unlocked for four hours or until it is no longer connected to the Pixel Watch. You can also force lock the phone by opening the power menu and pressing Shutdown.
How to use Smart Lock
All you need to do to use Lock is keep your phone connected to the Pixel Watch via Bluetooth. However, you must unlock the phone once (and at least every four hours thereafter).
You can disable Smart Lock by repeating the steps above, but you can also turn off Bluetooth temporarily if you want to turn it off.
While the phone locks as soon as it’s disconnected, this still leaves a window for rogues to gain access to the phone. If you lose your phone, we recommend turning off Bluetooth on the watch until it is found. Use Find My Device to locate a missing phone or call it from your Pixel Watch.
Why is Smart Lock not working?
If Smart Lock isn’t working, there’s probably a problem with your Bluetooth settings.
- Disable Bluetooth on both your Android phone and Pixel Watch.
- Enable Bluetooth on both devices.
- To open Reliable devices on your phone and double check that your Pixel Watch is connected.
Discover all the features of the Pixel Watch
Smart Lock can be used with any Bluetooth device, such as a Chromebook or a speaker, but connecting it to your watch is the perfect compromise between security and accessibility. The Pixel Watch isn’t just for unlocking your phone, either. It is packed with useful features to help you in your everyday life. These tips and tricks will have you using your Pixel Watch to its full potential in no time.
