All Google Pixels can use the Fingerprint Unlock feature even when the screen is off, thanks to the imminent Android 16 update.
According to Android Authority, which spotted the update in Android 16 Beta 3, the off-screen Fingerprint Unlock method now works for Pixel 6 and newer — not just Pixel 9.
The ability to unlock Pixels by scanning your fingerprint on the screen debuted with the Pixel 6, but the display had to be on in order to activate the sensor underneath it. Google introduced Fingerprint Unlock while the display is off with Android 16 developer preview for the Pixel 9, the latest generation of its smartphone. But a new Android 16 beta update indicates this feature will be extended to all Pixels that have the Fingerprint Unlock sensor. That means presumably all versions of Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 versions as well, including Pixel "a" series, since the outlet tested it with the budget-friendly Pixel 6a and reported that it works with the Pixel 7.
If you have the Android 16 Beta 3 installed, you can try it out for yourself. Go to Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock. Within the Fingerprint Unlock setting, toggle on Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock. With this enabled, you'll be able to unlock your Pixel with a fingerprint even when the display is off. It's handy feature that feels like a more natural gesture by eliminating one less step to unlocking on your phone.
If you don't have the beta version of the Android 16, you won't have to wait long for the official release. According to the Android Developers Blog, Google expects to ship Android 16 in the second quarter of 2025, which is anytime between April and June of this year.
