Google Revives Native App Lock for Android Devices

Google has finally brought back its native app lock feature for Android devices. The feature, which allows users to lock multiple apps at once, is now available in the latest Android Canary release.

The app lock feature was first discovered by Android Authority in older Android builds and was expected to be a welcome change from the one-by-one setup process seen in previous releases. To access the feature, users can go to Settings > Security & privacy > App lock. They will need to enter their device PIN or biometrics to open locked apps.

Google has also cautioned that locked apps will no longer display notification content, and widgets and shortcuts will be removed. However, AI agents and services can still access the locked app's data if previously granted permission. Users are also given directions to hide apps via Private Space instead of locking them.

The feature is currently available in Android Canary 2608, but it's unclear when or if it will roll out to other devices. Google would be joining the likes of Xiaomi and vivo in offering this option, while Samsung still doesn't let users lock apps in their app drawer.