At CES 2023, Google unveiled the Watch Unlock feature, which is basically another way of unlocking your Android smartphone apart from fingerprint or face unlock. The Watch Unlock feature is based on an already existing Active Unlock API on Android 13.
According to AssembleDebug, Google may launch the Watch Unlock feature soon. AssembleDebug tweaked a bunch of low-level system flags and was able to pull out a tutorial video in the Settings menu of the Pixel watch. And as per the information, if no fingerprint or face unlock has been applied to the smartphone, it will look for your nearby Wear OS device for permission to unlock the smartphone. This means that Wear OS-powered Galaxy Watch owners could also enjoy this feature in the near future.
Android users can tap on the notification or swipe up the lock screen to unlock their smartphone using their smartwatch. This Watch Unlock feature could come in handy in case your hands are wet, dirty or the face unlock isn't working. However, do note that in order to unlock your smartphone using your smartwatch, it should be close to your phone.
There is no clarity on why this feature did not make it to the market, even though it is based on an existing Android 13 API. Whatever the case may be, it is all set to arrive soon, or it could launch the new functionality with the Pixel 8 series and the Pixel Watch 2.
