On thenew Pixel 4,Google opted to replace the traditional fingermark sensor used on its previous handsets for an iPhone - similar face unlock scheme featuring a advanced infrared 3D Transportation projector . However , unlike the iPhone , the Pixel 4 ’s face unlock works even if a person ’s middle are closed , which is a likely certificate issue Google say it plan to patch sometime in the next few months .

By allowing the Pixel 4 ’s face unlock to work even when someone ’s eyes are closed , the fear is that a bad actor could gain access to the phone by control it up to your side while you were sleeping ( or dead ) . This is why for Apple ’s FaceID on iPhones include an optional toggle for “ Require Attention for Face ID , ” which add together an extra level of surety that forces the person to really calculate at the gadget before gaining submission .

substantiation , for those asking#madebygoogle#pixel4pic.twitter.com / mBDJphVpfB

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Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)

— Chris Fox ( @thisisFoxx)October 15 , 2019

At Google ’s Pixel 4 launch event last week , it was unclear whether an attention - curb feature of speech for the Pixel ’s typeface unlock would make it on the phone , with somereports lay claim the featurehad already been let in , whileothers said the pick was not available on their machine .

So after turn over out to Google for more information , a Google congressman provided Gizmodo with an prescribed argument on the matter , saying :

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

“ We ’ve been work on an option for users to require their eyes to be open to unlock the phone , which will be delivered in a software update in the coming calendar month . In the meantime , if any Pixel 4 users are concerned that someone may take their phone and seek to unlock it while their eyes are close , they can activate a security lineament that requires a oarlock , pattern or watchword for the next unlock . Pixel 4 face unlock meets the security requirements as a strong biometric , and can be used for payments and app authentication , including banking apps . It is resilient against invalid unlock attempts via other agency , like with masks . ”

presently , there ’s no accurate timetable for when this update will arrive , though considering that it seems some review social unit came with an attending check feature enable , I would n’t be surprised if Google was able to push an update out to all Pixel 4 devices before the remnant of the year .

In the interim , if you want to continue using face unlock but still need to protect your phone while you log Z’s , you could enableAndroid ’s Lockdown featureby opening the telephone set ’s background menu , going to exhibit > Advanced > Lock Screen video display and turning on the toggle for “ Show lockdown option . ”

William Duplessie

Once it ’s turn on , you ’ll be able to interlock down your headphone by harbour the power button for a couple of seconds and hitting the pick that pops up , which will command you ( or someone else ) to enter your PIN or password the next time someone essay to unlock the phone .

AndroidFacial RecognitionGooglePixel 4Smartphones

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