![]() Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen is in the active position, then click the toggle next to "Smart Lock" to turn that specific feature on, if it isn't already. Follow the steps to select and connect your device.įinally, click the name of your phone at the top of that same settings section. Next, click "Connected devices" in the main left-of-screen settings menu - and if you haven't yet connected your Android phone to your Chromebook, click the "Set up" option within the "Android phone" section. That asterisk aside, to get started with Google Smart Lock on ChromeOS, all you've gotta do is open up your Chromebook's settings - by clicking the time in the lower-right corner of the taskbar area and then clicking the gear-shaped icon in the upper-right corner of the panel that pops up. Your best bet is to ask your IT staff if it's possible to enable it. So if you're in a company-oriented scenario and can't find the option, that may be why. It does this by turning your Android phone into a wireless key: Whenever your Android phone is nearby and unlocked, ChromeOS will skip the standard password entry screen and instead let you click a little arrow icon to sign in and get going.Īny reasonably recent Android phone will work for the purpose, though administrators do have the ability to disable the function in managed environments at businesses, schools, and other organizations. When it comes to ChromeOS, Google Smart Lock can keep you from having to type in your password every time your computer wakes from hibernation. You can add any Bluetooth device that's been paired to your phone as a trusted device and then let it keep your phone unlocked whenever it's connected. It empowers you to tell your phone to skip the lock screen anytime it's connected to a specific Bluetooth device - say, your car's audio system or your gym headphones - when you know the phone will always be in your control. Trusted devices: If you'd rather have Google Smart Lock recognize a Bluetooth pairing, this next option's for you. You'll obviously want to be selective about what places you choose, but configuring this to recognize somewhere like your home can be a helpful way to avoid authentication where it's generally not needed but keep your phone secured in all other areas. Trusted places: Perhaps the most useful Google Smart Lock element, this option allows you to set specific locations - by business name, street address, or manual map placement - at which your phone will never put up a lock screen or require authentication (in theory, at least the function can sometimes be a bit finicky and require occasional fine-tuning). Anytime your phone is set down or not in motion for more than a moment, it'll require authentication again. That way, if you unlock your phone to use it and then put it back into your bag or pocket while walking around, you won't have to unlock it again the next time you pick it up. On-body detection: Fire up this option, and your phone will remain unlocked whenever you're holding or carrying it - so long as you've already unlocked it once. However you get there, once you've opened the Smart Lock section, you'll be prompted to put in your PIN, pattern, or password - and you'll then see a list of available choices: Open the Lock Screen section of your phone's settings.On Android phones where the manufacturer has made modifications to the operating system, the Smart Lock section may be located in a different area of the device's settings. On more current and up-to-date devices, tap "Advanced settings" and then tap "Smart Lock.".On older Android versions, tap "Smart Lock.".Open the Security section of your phone's settings.Then, in the standard Google Android setup - the setup you see on Pixel phones and certain other devices: To activate Google Smart Lock on Android, you'll first need to have a PIN, pattern, or password set for your phone (which you should already have, regardless!). It's the best of both worlds, in other words: effective Android security without unnecessary annoyances. ![]() On any reasonably recent Android device, you can set up Google Smart Lock to keep your phone unlocked in certain trusted situations but to require your PIN, pattern, password, or biometric authentication at all other times. Here's a step-by-step guide to activating Google Smart Lock and taking full advantage of everything it has to offer across both Android and ChromeOS. And best of all? Once you set it up in either environment, it couldn't be much easier to use. In ChromeOS, it empowers your Android phone to keep your computer unlocked. In Android, the system allows you to keep your phone unlocked in certain preapproved, known-to-be-safe circumstances. Google Smart Lock is an unlocking feature for Android devices and Chromebooks.
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