Android Guides

How to use smart lock in Android Lollipop?

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Learn to use smart lock to unlock your phone with your location or trusted (e.g.,Bluetooth) devices

I. What is smart lock in Android Lollipop?

Sometimes, it is annoying to type PIN or password again and again to unlock the Android device screen.  But you can not afford turning off the security settings for the phone.

Android Lollipop introduced smart lock to solve this problem.

So, Android Lollipop can use your location, your connected devices or your face to unlock the phone automatically.  When you are in pre-assigned trusted location, or your Android device is connected to a trusted Bluetooth (or NFC) device, you can just swipe to unlock the phone without entering PIN or pass-code.

Face unlock actually has been introduced since Android Jelly Bean. It is apparently improved significantly in Android Lollipop.

For trusted devices, Motorola introduced Motorola Skip for Moto X based on NFC tags. But no other vendors provide similar options.

For most Android users, smart lock in Android Lollipop is totally new.

II. What are accepted for smart lock in Android Lollipop?

Smart lock in Android Lollipop accepts 3 types of trusted info:

  1. Trusted devices. You can assign any Bluetooth (NFC is also supported) devices as “trusted”. When your Android device is paired with such devices, you can unblock the screen by a simple swipe.
  2. Trusted locations. You can use your home location or office location or any other locations as “trusted” places. Once you are in these locations, smart lock will kick in.
  3. Trusted face. This usually is used for fun.

III. How to enable and configure smart lock in Android Lollipop?

By default, smart lock in Android Lollipop is not turned on in your device. You must manually turned it on and configure it.

Step 1: Enable trusted agents.

Important!! You must first turn on smart lock under Trusted agents before you can see the option under screen security.

So, go to Settings—Security. 

Under Advanced, tap Trusted agents as shown below.

Tap Smart lock (Google) to enable it. You can also drag the switch to the right side to enable it.

Once smart lock is enabled, the switch will be in the right side with a blue color.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_1_settings_security how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_2_trusted_agents_smart_lock

Step 2. Configure Smart lock in Android Lollipop

After enabling smart lock as a trusted agent in step 1, you will now find a new item of smart lock under Settings—Security as shown below. 

Here you can configure smart lock.

Tap Smart lock as shown below.

You will then be asked to provide current screen lock PIN or password to proceed to add trusted devices or trusted locations.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_3_smart_lock_enabledhow_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_4_smart_lock_confirm_pin

IV. How to add trusted devices to smart lock in Android Lollipop?

Once smart lock is enabled, go to  Settings—Security—Smart lock—Trusted devices as shown below.

Tap “add trusted device” as shown below.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_5_trusted_device how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_6_trusted_device_explained

You will then prompted to choose device type.

Currently Bluetooth and NFC devices are supported.

In this guide, we use Amazon Echo (it can also work as a Bluetooth speaker) as an example.

Make sure the Bluetooth device is currently connected to your Android device. The Android device will list the connected Bluetooth devices here as shown below.

In this case, it found my Echo.

Tap the Bluetooth device.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_7_bluetooth_nfchow_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_8_bluetooth_speaker

You will get the successful page, which indicates the device was registered as a trusted device to unlock the phone.

You can continue to add more trusted devices by following the above-mentioned procedures.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_9_trusted_device_addedhow_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_10_remove_trusted_device

Of course, you can also remove any trusted devices at any time.

In Settings—Security—Smart lock—Trusted devices, tap and hold any of the devices. You will then be prompted with the option to remove it as shown above. Tap OK to remove it from the trusted devices.

V. How to add trusted locations to smart lock in Android Lollipop?

Smart lock in Android Lollipop also allows you to add any addresses as trusted so that the phone will unlock automatically once you are in such locations.

Of course, normally, you may add home and/or work address as trusted addresses for the smart lock.

Step 1: Check current settings for trusted places

You can check current trusted places settings in Settings—Security—Smart lock (as shown below).

None means you haven’t enabled trusted places yet.

Tap Trusted places as shown below.

In trusted places, you can find out that you haven’t added any addresses yet. So, there is no way to enable it.

As instructed in the trusted places settings page, you need add your address in Google Maps.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_11_trusted_places how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_12_trusted_places_settings

Step 2: Add your address from Google Maps

Start Google Maps app in your phone.

Tap the navigation icon (3 lines in top right) as shown below.

Tap Settings as shown below.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_13_google_maps how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_14_google_maps_settings

Tap Edit home or work as shown below to add or edit your home address or work address.

In this guide, we try to use work address as trusted places for the smart lock in Android Lollipop.

So, tap Enter work address as shown below.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_15_edit_hoe_work_address how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_16_edit_work_address

You can then type the address, or use current address in the map as your work address.

Once the address is added, you can find it under Edit work address as shown below.

Now, you can exit the Google Maps app.

The updated address will be propagated to smart lock automatically.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_17_add_work_addresshow_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_18_trusted_places_enable_work_address

Step 3: Enable trusted places for the address added

Now, go to  Settings—Security—Smart lock — Trusted places (as shown above).

You should notice, the work address you just added is listed under Work.

But it is not enabled as trusted places for the smart lock yet.  You need tap it once to enable it.

Once the address is enabled as a trusted place, the switch in the right side will change the color to blue as shown below.

In the smart lock page, as shown below,  the trusted place is also changed from None to Work.

how_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_19_work_address_enabledhow_to_use_smart_lock_in_android_lollipop_20_trusted_places_enabled

 Step 4: Enjoy trusted address for smart lock in Android Lollipop

That’s it.

Once you are in the trusted places, you phone screen will unlock itself automatically.

Please note, the trusted places feature requires internet connection.

VI. FAQs on smart lock in Android Lollipop

Q1: I don’t have the smart lock in Android Lollipop, why?

To use smart lock in Android Lollipop, you must first turn on smart lock under Trusted agents first.

Q2: Trusted place does not work, why?

Trusted place in Android Lollipop’s smart lock requires internet connections.  I am not sure about the reason. Normally, for other location based services, turning on location (GPS) service is sufficient (e.g., Motorola Assist).

Anyway, in current Lollipop version, trusted place requires active internet connection.

Can you setup and use smart lock in Android Lollipop device?

If you have any questions on setting smart lock in Android Lollipop device or encounter any problems using smart lock feature, please let us know them in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

For more Android Lollipop guides, please visit on Android Lollipop Guide page.



Comments

  1. The smart lock service didn’t work any longer out of the blue. It was working fine a couple days ago. But even checking the location settings, smart lock on as a trusted agent, trusted location linked to maps…nothing works. I noticed the small lock on the bottom of the lockscreen the lock is engaged compared to another phone where the smart lock works and the lock is not engaged. What can I do?

    Reply

  2. I am having the exact same issue on my new S6. Smart lock says it is engaged and connected to both my pc and my Zen watch. Yet I still get the small unlock circle on my screen rather than it actually unlocking. Any ideas why?

    Reply

    • The small circle is actually the “lock” circle. Swipe anywhere ELSE on the screen top open the phone. Swipe the lock circle to relock the phone bypassing smart lock one time.

      Reply

  5. Why don’t I see Trusted faces on Galaxy S 5. I have Trusted Places, Trusted trusted devices, Trusted voice and on-body detection. I am running Lollipop as well. Thanks

    Reply

  6. Samsung Galaxy S4 5.0.1 (Verizon) doesn’t have anything under Smart Lock. It asks for my PIN but just goes back to the Security settings page. Trust Agents is turned on and I have removed Exchange ActiveSync profile that I thought might have been causing this. Rebooted several times but still no Trusted Face, Places, Devices

    Reply

  10. Why my LG G3 Stylus still request to enter PIN and not FACE UNLOCK while I have set TRUSTED FACE on? How to activate the FACE UNLOCK so when I want to open the screen the phone ask to show my Face, not request a PIN?

    Reply

  11. Even in trusted location (my home) with everything turned on, my phone locks as if I weren’t here.
    Reboot did not fix it.
    Worked yesterday, woke up today and it’s not working.
    Any ideas?

    Reply

  12. I recently flashed the Lollipop ROM to my Ascend Mate 2. The only thing that shows on my Smart Lock screen is for Bluetooth access. There is nothing there about Trusted Places or Trusted Face. And yes, I did turn-on Trusted Agent first.
    I would appreciate any help.

    Reply

  13. I own a Sony T2 and the issuance of Android 5.1.1 device, but I have a smart lock feature does not work with me and especially the face detection feature has followed the way in which taught them failed Please help me …

    Reply

  14. Trusted location works good, but once I leave the area it won’t re-lock, how do I re-lock it? If I tap the lock icon in asks for the pin just once.

    Reply

  16. I’m using a moto g2 and even after I have enabled all my trusted face feature of smart lock i have not been able to use it. Whenever I switch my phone on I have to switch it on through my screen lock pattern instead of the facial recognition feature. Pls help

    Reply

  17. I linked smart lock on nite edge with my gear 2 watch and as far as I understood as long as the device is connected to the watch by Bluetooth it won’t lock which is great however just out of curiosity I turned off the watch to see if the device will lock after losing Bluetooth connection as its supposed to do but it didn’t and that’s not good anyway to get this fixed?

    Reply

  18. I changed my security lock from swipe to password for a few days, I went to change it back to swipe and that option is not available for me anymore, it says “turned off by administrator, encryption policy or credential storage” help! I don’t want to enter a PIN/PASSCODE/PATTERN, I just would like to swipe. Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  19. I am using Lenovo a6000 with Lollopop 5.0.2
    I can not use smart lock.
    I turned on Smart lock under trust agents, but still smart lock option does not gets displayed under settings.
    Kindly advice and help me what can be done to enable smart lock

    Reply

  21. With my S6 edge, I’m unable to add my HTC Wildfire (Android 2.2) or Nexus 4 (Android 6) as a trusted device though both of them pair fine. Also can I use my mac book pro for the same?

    Reply

  22. I don’t see any thing under smart lock. Only option is Google smart lock on and off. No option of trusted places or devices etcetera. Lenovo vibep1m

    Reply

  23. don’t see custom places to add locations. message came up a while back to set up home location but I can’t seem to find that screen again, thanks.

    Reply

  26. I’m using Lenovo a6000+ mobile with lollipop version 5.0.2…. After activating smart lock option in trust agent… I’m not getting the new smart lock item… How can I get that…?

    Reply

  27. Hi, on my Huawei G7, I don’t deze the smart lock tab, although I have a smart band. When I couple it with my Phone, I do het the smart lock options, but the tab is not in the settings…

    Reply

  28. Can you tell me how to disable the smart lock? I prefer to lock My phone by entering a password. I’m using vivo x5pro

    Reply

  29. I have the same problem as cyndy’s. My phone is Vivo V3. I accidently turned on the Smart Lock and I don’t know how to disable it. I prefer to unlock my phone using pin or password. I didn’t see any Smart Lock feature or display when I checked on the security settings. Please help me. I want to disable it.

    Reply

  30. Even I have same problem my phone is vivo 1
    Accedently I turned on the smart lock now its unable to unlock it
    Please help me to disable this smart lock feature
    There is no smart lock options in my settings
    So please tell me how to disable smart lock options I my mobile

    Reply

  31. i am facing the same problem in vivo v3 by accidently prssed the body detecton , so how to off that, vivo v3 has no options for smart lock even , there is no option for trusted agents, how to turn off the smart lock, tried all , created shortcut of google playservices , searched smart lock, and so onnn , but no use, tell me the solution plllsss

    Reply

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