Google is rethinking how Quick Settings tiles behave on locked phones (again)
New code indicates Google will only restrict Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, and Airplane Mode toggles on the lock screen.
Google is reconsidering the restrictions on Quick Settings tiles for locked Android devices, according to recently uncovered code in beta builds. Initially, the company planned to require unlocking to modify nearly all of these settings, except for the flashlight tile. However, recent Android Canary 2608 code suggests a more balanced approach, proposing to lock only Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, and Airplane Mode toggles.
This shift implies that Google aims to maintain the availability of less sensitive features, such as flashlight and auto-rotate, on the lock screen while mitigating the risk of theft and tracking. Android lock screen settings have long been a subject of user concerns, with Quick Settings tiles offering a convenient way to adjust various system parameters without entering the device's passcode.
The new policy may strike a more reasonable balance between security and user convenience, but it remains to be seen how it will ultimately impact Android users.
Written by urgent.news from Android Authority's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.