How to setup Trusted Devices on Android Lollipop to automatically unlock your phone or tablet

I can't stress enough how important it is to use a security lock screen on your mobile devices. If you ever misplace your phone or tablet, no one will be able to get into the device. However, constantly entering a code to unlock your device is a royal pain in the you know what.

Finally, Finally, Finally Google has implemented Trusted Devices in Android. With Android Lollipop and a new feature called Smart Lock, you will be able to set any Bluetooth device, NFC tag, or even your face as a way to automatically unlock your device so you won't have to constantly enter your PIN code or swipe a pattern over 100 times per day.

In this guide, I will show you how to use Smart Lock to bypass the security lock screen when your phone or tablet is safe and in your possession. If you prefer to watch instead of reading, I included a video at the bottom of this post. Note: If you don't have Android Lollipop, you can still get the same features, and then some, using Delayed Lock. Check out that guide here.

Bluetooth devices are probably the best to setup because you know your phone is safe when it's connected to them. For example, if you own an Android Wear smartwatch (or any other Bluetooth smartwatch that works with your phone), it's always on your wrist. If it's set as a trusted device, you won't have to unlock your phone as long as it's connected. However, if you leave your phone in a restaurant and walk away, your phone will lose the connection with your smartwatch and your security lock screen will go back into effect. So as you go about your normal day, you will probably never have to enter your security code. But you can rest easily knowing that if your phone is stolen or you leave it somewhere, nobody will be able to get into it. Not everyone has a smartwatch so that's why you can also set your car's Bluetooth hands free / stereo system or even another Bluetooth headset.

You also have the option to temporarily lock you phone even when it's connected to one of your trusted Bluetooth devices by tapping the padlock icon on the lock screen. Your device will remain locked until you enter your code.

NFC tags is other option that is probably not going to be all that helpful for most of you. First, you have to own an NFC tag, and second, it only works when your phone or tablet is resting on the tag itself, so you can't pick it up before turning it on.

Trusted Face is another option that Google threw in. If you remember, Face Unlock was launched with Ice Cream Sandwich as one of the security lock options, but not with Lollipop. Instead, you will only find Trusted Face in Smart Lock. The procedure for recording your face is the same as Face Unlock, but they also added an option to capture more images in different lighting environments giving you better reliability. Trusted Face isn't really unlocking your phone, it's a means to bypass the lock screen. So say you have enabled a PIN code for your security lock. When you turn on the phone's display, it immediately looks for your face, but you won't see yourself on the display like you did with Face Unlock. It does it all in the background, and if your face is recognized before you swipe, the security lock will be bypassed. If it doesn't recognize your face, you will then have to enter your security lock. It actually works pretty well, but I couldn't really show you on the video.

The only item that is missing in Smart Lock is WiFi. I would liked to have seen the option of adding any saved WiFi network such as your home or a friend's house. For whatever reason, Google omitted it, and we can only hope it will be added at a later date.

To set a Trusted Device or a Trusted Face, just head into your Settings, and find Security by scrolling down. For some phones, you might have to tab over to a category. For example, Samsung phones have Security under the General tab. Tap on Security and you will see Smart Lock. After tapping Smart Lock you will have to enter your security code and then you will see two options: Trusted Devices and Trusted Face. Note: Smart Lock won't be an option unless you have a security lock such as PIN or pattern enabled.

Trusted Devices allows you to set as many Bluetooth devices or NFC tags as you want. Bluetooth devices must already be paired to your device, but it's also very easy to add a device that you just paired. Upon pairing a device for the first time, you will get a notification asking you if you want to set it as a Trusted Device. Just tap “Add as Trusted Device,” enter your security code, and you're all set. If for whatever reason you swiped away the notification card, you can still add it by going to Trusted Devices through the Settings.

For NFC tags, you will only need to touch your device to any NFC tag. After it's paired, you will then enter a name for it such as Nightstand, My Car, or whatever. Now whenever your phone or tablet is touching the NFC tag (device has to be turned on and unlocked to initiate), the security lock screen will be bypassed. It's not the greatest implementation since most people don't have NFC tags lying around, not to mention having to keep the tag connected to the phone at all times.

The Trusted Face option will simply walk you through the process of capturing your face.

I put together a video showing you how it all works……..

I hope this guide helped you out. If I missed something, please let me know in the comments. Also be sure to check out our other Android Lollipop guides here