Google has come under fire for releasing upgrades and feature updates first on Pixel, leaving more popular Android phones behind. But those awkward optics are kind of reversed in the latest update to leak out of pre-release Android code.
Android Authority, which discovered this update in Android’s Canary 2512 release, says “Google may be working on a native App Lock feature for Android 17 that lets users secure specific apps without the restrictions of Private Space. This new API allows the default launcher to lock apps, eliminating the need to use third-party app lockers.”
The expectation is this will use the phone’s biometric unlock to protect apps, rather than introduce anything new and complicated. This functionality has been added to Android builds by some other OEMs and Apple has now brought the same to iPhone: “If you want to show someone something on your iPhone but want peace of mind that they can’t get into certain apps, you can lock or hide the apps.”
This will be a major uplift for Samsung and Pixel owners. It’s not expected to launch as an Android 16 update, as we have seen with some other new security updates. Instead, Android Authority says it’s more likely to come next year with Android 17. That suggests another OS uplift that puts security and privacy first.
Locking apps in this way is much more usable than having to secure apps in Android’s Private Space or similar, taking them out of the phone’s normal UI. Instead, it just means that launching your photo album or note-taking app is safe from prying eyes.
Leaving your Pixel or Samsung with your kids — or even friends, colleagues or partner — is less nerve-wracking, when anything sensitive can be so easily secured. I suspect it’s a feature Pixel users will find themselves using a lot, without having to install third-party overlays. You’ll then be able to safely leave your phone behind without worrying.
