Long supported by Android, several tools or data could be accessed from the lockscreen with remarkable simplicity, but many of them came with the minor irritation of requiring authentication before use. Google is eliminating the requirement to unlock your phone in order to access lockscreen smart home controls in Android 13. This is how.
Google has added a new toggle with the uncomplicated title “Control from locked device” that is now live in the first version of Android 13. Without unlocking the phone, this option, which is deactivated by default, permits control of external devices.
When this setting is turned on, Android 13’s lockscreen on Pixel smartphones enables hands-free operation of smart home appliances via the Google Home app. On the lockscreen, tapping the Home icon displays customizable device controls that may now be accessed without a PIN or fingerprint. According to our limited testing, this appears to function with all different kinds of smart home appliances, even ones with more extensive menus like the Nest Thermostat.
Apps can override this setting, which is one important caution to note. Even with this toggle set on, you would still need to unlock your phone if a third-party app that connects to Android’s device controls menu were to specify not allow controls while the phone was unlocked. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that way using the Google Home app.
We’re currently going through the first Android 13 Beta release, so check back soon for anything new and let us know if you notice anything we haven’t in the comments or on on Twitter .
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