Improve face unlock - Google Pixel 4 XL Guides, News, & Discussion

Anyone have problem with face unlock about bad angles or not working under bright sunlight! Just set up face unlock under direct sunlight! make sure sunlight sight direct into your face when setting up. Hope that's helpful, it works for me at least
Ps: if you are wearing glasses, put them on when setup.

My biggest issue with face unlock is random challenge to unlock with PIN for "added security".
I say random because I've not rebooted the phone. The message is different when rebooting. I've sent numerous feedback with logs to Google but Google doesn't respond to feedback. I have no idea why this happens. It's annoying. This can happen as often as once a day at random unless I'm missing the reason for it. Maybe it works for days without error. Maybe this is required at intervals I've not recognized?
Patterns I've noticed otherwise include a pause to unlock when I grab my phone and it's upside down. It usually gives me time to recognize this and get screen upright. My phone is usually on a stand upright in portrait mode so it's rare that I pick it up with screen not orientated correctly.
I've not tried setting up face unlock in bright setting though.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

samep said:
My biggest issue with face unlock is random challenge to unlock with PIN for "added security".
I say random because I've not rebooted the phone. The message is different when rebooting. I've sent numerous feedback with logs to Google but Google doesn't respond to feedback. I have no idea why this happens. It's annoying. This can happen as often as once a day at random unless I'm missing the reason for it. Maybe it works for days without error. Maybe this is required at intervals I've not recognized?
Patterns I've noticed otherwise include a pause to unlock when I grab my phone and it's upside down. It usually gives me time to recognize this and get screen upright. My phone is usually on a stand upright in portrait mode so it's rare that I pick it up with screen not orientated correctly.
I've not tried setting up face unlock in bright setting though.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
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your problems is totally different with what I mean to. However, It think your problem could be from software or setting. you would reset your phone. And if that keep going, using google warranty is best choice.

nguaogioi said:
your problems is totally different with what I mean to. However, It think your problem could be from software or setting. you would reset your phone. And if that keep going, using google warranty is best choice.
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Thanks. I should talk to Google Pixel support again. I've been reluctant since they couldn't resolve an issue with Google Home app. They referred me to Google Home app support but they kept getting stuck on the fact they support hardware, not the app. I could link Google and Philips Hue but couldn't add Philips Hue to Google Home app. Failing every time.
Long story but the mobile apps kept telling me that that there was an issue getting provider information for Philips Hue. Yet it went through all the steps and failed at the end, never adding Philips Hue. This once worked until it stopped; nothing I was doing was working, even asking Google and Philips for support was pointless with them refusing to talk to each other or continue support with me until resolution. One day my phone had a notification to control my lights and the linking and final step worked that time. I followed the notification and seemingly skipped several steps I've went through to failure but this time everything went as expected and I can control my lights again. Finally! What was the issue? Google won't say but I suspect they discovered it long after I gave up. Months!
I've seen face unlock improvements in the notes of the monthly updates so I've thought Google is aware but like before, not on my timetable. Low priority. With my past slate now clean, start a new one.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

samep said:
My biggest issue with face unlock is random challenge to unlock with PIN for "added security".
I say random because I've not rebooted the phone. The message is different when rebooting. I've sent numerous feedback with logs to Google but Google doesn't respond to feedback. I have no idea why this happens. It's annoying. This can happen as often as once a day at random unless I'm missing the reason for it. Maybe it works for days without error. Maybe this is required at intervals I've not recognized?
Patterns I've noticed otherwise include a pause to unlock when I grab my phone and it's upside down. It usually gives me time to recognize this and get screen upright. My phone is usually on a stand upright in portrait mode so it's rare that I pick it up with screen not orientated correctly.
I've not tried setting up face unlock in bright setting though.
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Click to collapse
The issue you explained about the seemingly random pin requirement is actually not an issue at all. It's coded into the software as an extra security measure. If you lock your phone and do not unlock it for XXX amount of time (eg. 1 hour) then the phone requires your pin or pattern to verify its still you and your phone hasn't been physically compromised. The other trigger for this happening is at or around 6 hours since the last time your pin was physically entered, it will require you to enter it for the same reasons I listed before. Using face unlock doesn't reset the 6 hours, only physically entering your pin code will.
Hope this helps you understand a little better what's going on with your phone. We all have the same thing happen to us, just most don't notice it when it happens.

1dopewrx05 said:
The issue you explained about the seemingly random pin requirement is actually not an issue at all. It's coded into the software as an extra security measure. If you lock your phone and do not unlock it for XXX amount of time (eg. 1 hour) then the phone requires your pin or pattern to verify its still you and your phone hasn't been physically compromised. The other trigger for this happening is at or around 6 hours since the last time your pin was physically entered, it will require you to enter it for the same reasons I listed before. Using face unlock doesn't reset the 6 hours, only physically entering your pin code will.
Hope this helps you understand a little better what's going on with your phone. We all have the same thing happen to us, just most don't notice it when it happens.
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Your hour or six a guess, estimation or actual?
What you described seems true but my use would likely indicate more quiring for PIN than I experience. Just asking.
But if this is intent, I don't agree PIN is added security. Sure face ID can be duped in many ways but at the very least what I'd prefer is safe zone like home where face unlock never dupes to PIN or added security. As I recall, total unlock is only option for designated safe zone like home, unless considering Bluetooth device which I don't prefer unless it can distinguish my Fitbit Versa 2 watch is very near and worn?
Surely there's less invasive methods users can deploy to not be so inconvenienced at home. I've even seen this at work with my wife's iPhone X. More choices seems a logical approach to consider. Why hasn't it?
Phone on charger just now, after just talking to Google Assistant, give a smart home command it interprets correctly, the smart assistant says sure, after you unlock your phone. I dismiss the Google Assistant and promptly unlock my phone without the stupid PIN. Not being very user friendly. I'm under the impression many developers don't just use the device and rethink their intents to be most user friendly.
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I feel like I don't see this message more than twice a week... which certainly goes against the every 6 hours idea. My impression was that sometimes movement or Soli will wake it up and it sees something it thinks is a face but it can't unlock with it. If it sees this enough, it may prompt for a PIN unlock with the different message. But sometimes, I think I see this message taking it out of my pocket... where it can't possibly see a face. But maybe it saw part of my face as I was putting it in. It would be interesting to know what the actual rules are regarding this.

I know that when I have the screen upside down, the screen wakes but gives me time to get it upright. Seconds. I don't recall seeing this fail me, thankfully.
I don't have much or any of the Soli features enabled but have screen tap to wake and skip unlock screen enabled.
I've wondered if having the generic stand was causing random face unlock errors but reach for phone is disabled. And I've tried placing my screen down flat instead of the stand and still got prompts to unlock with PIN.
Sometimes I grab my phone and tap to wake doesn't work. But it doesn't mean I get a prompt for PIN every time either. Yesterday, I tapped on the screen repeatedly and it woke and unlocked when it recognized my face. Maybe it's a latent response but I'm usually using the power button to wake by then.
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So I did a chat with Pixel support today.
For the issues with frequent queries for PIN and Voice Assistant asking me to unlock my phone first, the agent had me delete storage and cache for Google and Phone app, delete face unlock and add it back. Reboot phone and get back with them if this doesn't help.
The agent indicated there's not a timer that cannot be reset with unlock that would naturally challenge for PIN after counting down. His advice is to do the above for that issue. The face unlock is suspect. I hadn't done this until today. For kicks, I tried it outside in daylight though the agent didn't recommend this idea. Fwiw, I can unlock my phone in the dark but maybe daylight helps better see contours of the face.
I have a case number to chat again if this continues. Agent says it shouldn't reoccur.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

I only have a basic understanding of how face unlock works... but from what I understand it uses an IR dot projector and two IR cameras to stereoscopically sense the depth of your face. This is why it works in the dark to begin with and based on this, I would think direct sunlight would be a detriment rather than a boon in this sensing method. But it may not have any effect at all as I don't know exactly how the sun and the dot projector overlap in wavelength and strength.
Having a "bad" face calibration might explain it as the phone is more often unconfident about it being your face. So it triggers more failures which prompts the increased security message.

jljtgr said:
I only have a basic understanding of how face unlock works... but from what I understand it uses an IR dot projector and two IR cameras to stereoscopically sense the depth of your face. This is why it works in the dark to begin with and based on this, I would think direct sunlight would be a detriment rather than a boon in this sensing method. But it may not have any effect at all as I don't know exactly how the sun and the dot projector overlap in wavelength and strength.
Having a "bad" face calibration might explain it as the phone is more often unconfident about it being your face. So it triggers more failures which prompts the increased security message.
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Agreed. It's unknown if added light is a help, hindrance or placebo. But the agent seemed confident just replacing the face unlock would solve my issues.
Not all of my issues sounded familiar was the reason for suggested extra storage wipes and reboot.
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I spoke from my experience. Before that if i will to unlock i have to keep it direct to my face as the right distance or angles and it hardly work with changing light conditions like under direct sunlight. But after set up with aid from sunlight i could say it work quick and more reliable as my iphone xr even in dark or direct sunlight.
I dont know if that is hardware or software problems.

73 hours of uptime. Random PIN for added security prompt has returned when Google Pixel support said it shouldn't after deleting and adding face unlock.
Taking my case ID back to Pixel support. I'm not sure the agent was right about face unlock not occasionally duping to PIN unlock. Very annoying if this is intended or not.
72 hour bug?
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

So my Pixel 4 XL face unlock did the same prompt for pin after another 72 hours. No reboot; no error or explanation why other than added security. I'm at 146 hours uptime.
I asked Pixel support again about this. They're researching but want me to do a factory reset now and get back to them.
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Related

[Q] Face unlock doesn't work in android 5.0

Hello guys,
As I said in the title, face unlock doesn't work for me in android 5.0 LRX21O. It didn't work in preview versions also.
I have read several reviews on this feature, watched several videos, but i have never managed not once to unlock the device this way. I think i have registered almost 20 conditions for face matching, in different light condition, but the result is the same, it doesn't unlock the phone this way.
How is your experience with this feature?
Workinbg fine her ei don't see any proble mat all
probably your face is not compatible with this feature.
I had no problems here
ricardollreis said:
probably your face is not compatible with this feature.
I had no problems here
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Lol.
Probably, that's the only face I have unfortunately.. But seriously, it worked in KitKat.
Well, gonna ask a friend to set up this with his face and see how this will turn out.
it doesn't work for me either! I've tried to improve the matching also. It worked better when it first came out on the Galaxy Nexus.
I flashed the image via Mac and each partiton one at a time. I'm wondering if you did a full wipe including the user data? I didn't so I'm going to try that next maybe, or maybe wipe a particular folder in the system data to try again. I haven't bothered to root the phone yet I was going to do that at some point in the next few days.
It works for me if the room has good light conditions
neinfricatu said:
Hello guys,
As I said in the title, face unlock doesn't work for me in android 5.0 LRX21O. It didn't work in preview versions also.
I have read several reviews on this feature, watched several videos, but i have never managed not once to unlock the device this way. I think i have registered almost 20 conditions for face matching, in different light condition, but the result is the same, it doesn't unlock the phone this way.
How is your experience with this feature?
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you might be expecting it to open to your homescreen like it used to. it doesn't do that. it simply (and very subtley) just unlocks the lock icon at the bottom which then allows you to swipe up without having to enter your pin or pattern.
IG-88.thx said:
you might be expecting it to open to your homescreen like it used to. it doesn't do that. it simply (and very subtley) just unlocks the lock icon at the bottom which then allows you to swipe up without having to enter your pin or pattern.
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nop, i know how it works.
i have discovered what the problem was. i was locking the screen with an app and not by power button, so for a reason i do not know, the face unlock doesn't work if you lock the device this way.

[Q] Anyone Get Smart Lock to Work Consistently (Lollipop)

I have tried Smart Lock using both an an NFC card and a bluetooth headset. Seems like it works some of the time, but most of the time I still have to enter the PIN code.
Anyone out there get this feature to work consistently?
ronwi2 said:
I have tried Smart Lock using both an an NFC card and a bluetooth headset. Seems like it works some of the time, but most of the time I still have to enter the PIN code.
Anyone out there get this feature to work consistently?
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Click to collapse
Smartlock is working well for me with my car bluetooth... very consistent. I don't have any NFC cards to test with so I don't have a comment on that.
So I know we're on the same page - "working well" means that there is no need to type PIN or enter any sort of code to unlock so long as the phone is paired with the bluetooth? Would that also mean if you pushed the power button to lock the phone while it is connected to the bluetooth you could unlock it just by swiping without entering a code?
gs111 said:
Smartlock is working well for me with my car bluetooth... very consistent. I don't have any NFC cards to test with so I don't have a comment on that.
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Click to collapse
Yes, we are on the same page. I've used Lollipop in the car a couple dozen times now and once the bluetooth connects, then it is like there is no PIN code on the phone. It doesn't matter if it is charging, running on battery, or if I use the button or the screen turns off on it's own. When I hit the button to light the screen, I only have to swipe up to use the phone (no pin code required).
I've tested it with my pebble and that seems to work just as well... although I removed the pebble after a few hours. If I'm in a restaurant, I don't want whoever is sitting at my table to get into my phone just because I'm looking away (and my watch is right there).
Face unlock... THAT is not quite so consistent!
I have no tags or Bluetooth items to pair with, but I can't get consistent result with face unlock. Everywhere I've read that as unreliable as it was on KitKat, it's x1,000 times better on Lollipop.
I've taken probably about 30 different shots of my face with the Improve recognized face button. Scruffy, clean shaven, different lighting, some closer, some further away, in a winter hat, with my hair before & after I cut it, in a baseball cap, eyes opened and closed, my head turned slightly to the left & right as well as slightly up and down.
I'll take a pic to improve it, lock the phone and it'll work. Then I can set the phone down and let it sleep for a bit. Try to unlock it again and nope, have to enter my pin. Didn't change the lighting at all, the angle of my face to the camera, the distance of the camera to my face, etc.
Very, very inconsistent here.
I'm not concerned so much with people at my table, as people stealing it.
Someone should market a tiny bluetooth device that you can put in your pocked solely for the purpose of Smart Lock. Presumably it could be pretty tiny, as it would have less functionality than a bluetooth headset.
gs111 said:
Yes, we are on the same page. I've used Lollipop in the car a couple dozen times now and once the bluetooth connects, then it is like there is no PIN code on the phone. It doesn't matter if it is charging, running on battery, or if I use the button or the screen turns off on it's own. When I hit the button to light the screen, I only have to swipe up to use the phone (no pin code required).
I've tested it with my pebble and that seems to work just as well... although I removed the pebble after a few hours. If I'm in a restaurant, I don't want whoever is sitting at my table to get into my phone just because I'm looking away (and my watch is right there).
Face unlock... THAT is not quite so consistent!
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Click to collapse
I started using smart lock yesterday with Bluetooth and on body detection on my Note Edge and been getting random notification sounds but don't know what for. It don't even show up on my notification bar. Anyone knows what's going on and what's it sounding off for? It's quite annoying. Other than that notification sound coming up randomly it seems to be working fine for me.
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What is the most missed feature, compared to past Pixels?

For me, it'll have to be the notification LED I really miss that. Had different colours for different apps and even people, so I knew who or what it was without even picking up my phone to check.
I also miss the fingerprint sensor on all the banking apps etc but that'll be resolved in due course once the developers switch to the biometric API for Face Unlock.
What is it for you?
sidhaarthm said:
For me, it'll have to be the notification LED I really miss that. Had different colours for different apps and even people, so I knew who or what it was without even picking up my phone to check.
I also miss the fingerprint sensor on all the banking apps etc but that'll be resolved in due course once the developers switch to the biometric API for Face Unlock.
What is it for you?
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+ 1 on everything you have statted.
I have not yet purchased the Pixel 4 xl
And dont know if I will
Definitely rather have a LED light than AOD for sure.
Only the original quality photos and videos backup but not really. I'm actually using my 100GB Google One storage which I hardly touched. At my current rate of 1GB per 12 days, I'll be needing more space in just under 3 years. [emoji23]
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Hands down the finger print sensor. ? Unlimited Full Photo Backup as well. Wide angle selfie camera. I didn't think it was a huge deal on the 3 but I ended up using it quite a bit.
For sure LED notification and fingerprint sensor. I like the face unlock but also want to have the choice to not use it and use a fingerprint instead. There's many times I will pull my phone out just to see the time then POOF...unlocked. Ugh! lol
(yes, I know PIN/Pattern can be used in lieu of face unlock)
Veritech said:
For sure LED notification and fingerprint sensor. I like the face unlock but also want to have the choice to not use it and use a fingerprint instead. There's many times I will pull my phone out just to see the time then POOF...unlocked. Ugh! lol
(yes, I know PIN/Pattern can be used in lieu of face unlock)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is also a setting to face unlock then go to the "lock screen" rather than all the way in. That's what I do. So tap the screen to see notifications or face unlock then swipe up.
Settings -> Display -> Lock Screen Display -> Skip Lock Screen toggle : On skips directly to last screen used (like your home screen). Turn it off and Face Unlock goes to your lock screen and you just swipe up to then go to the home screen.
nothing. I thought I'd miss the fingerprint sensor, but I don't Face unlock is so fast it would be unlocked before I could place my finger. I would like an ultra wide lens and top bezel to shrink but that was not on the older models either...just hoping those 2 are done on P5
I have a TB on Google one, so not a huge issue for me with photos. I save original quality. I had my subscription last year as well.
Autofocus for the front-cam, no doubt...
Biometric API is really bugging me and I bet we could wait a very, very long time before Devs start actually updating for it.
Nothing really. I thought I'd miss the LED, but I haven't really noticed it being gone much. The fingerprint sensor some, but mainly because a lot of my apps use it. Definitely miss the convenience of it. I'll be very happy once they start using the new API. I sort of miss the metal back of the 2xl. But, wireless charging is awesome, so it's kind of a toss up.
I DEFINITELY don't miss the notch on the 3. I didn't think it bothered me, until I got this phone. Now I can't understand how I went a full year with it...
At least for as long as only a few apps support biometric unlocking, it definitely is the fingerprint scanner. But I'm sure it's only a medium-term loss, and we'll see more apps being able to use biometric unlock very soon.

Fingerprint enrollment

Anybody get the fingerprint enrollment to work without sending phone back to OnePlus. I have tried just about every fix I can find on other threads with no success. I installed the latest OS 11.0.5.6 AA and I think it got worse. Can't even run the calibration tests. My fingerprint has been broken since I got the phone new from OnePlus. I don't really use it at the present but it would be nice to have working if I decide to sell phone later.
By broken do you mean its not detecting your fingerprint? are you using a screen protector? If you send it to OnePlus with a Lock on it they will refuse it and probably keep it if they follow Sammys practices...
never gets to the point of detecting fingerprint. just error message that enrollment not complete.
Is this only in the first set up screen or even when you go through the settings to ass fingers?
The only issue I have with my FP reader is sometimes when I first unlock the phone I have to place my finger/thumb directly center and use relatively firm pressure to get it to unlock. If I relock the phone (using double tap, or the power button) and then double tap to unlock right away the reader works much better. I am not sure why it only appears less reliable after the phone has been locked for some time...( i have not done any time lock experiments). Also, after the phone is unlocked and I use the FP reader for anything else...like a banking app, of whatever else...it works flawlessly and responds very quickly as expected. I am not sure why it only acts "funny" after being locked for some time. It's almost like something is going into a deep sleep while being locked???
At any rate, what you are describing sounds much different, even though it might somehow be related to the whole FP reader issues. If mine was acting as bad as your I would demand a return, repair, refund...whatever it takes to get the issue fixed.
Got it to work. I had pulled persist img when I first received the phone and unlocked. I flashed the old persist.img using fastbootd and got fingerprint to enroll. I use a tempered glass screen protector and it took awhile to get it enrolled but works good now that I have a fingerprint entered.

OnePlus 8T KB2003 Model - fingerprint issue

Hello,
I have this phone for near 1 year and I always had this problem.
The problem is not happening very often but it happens by time on time.
It was happening more often before, when the phone stays with locked screen for a longer period.
But now it happens whenever it wants and I can't understand what could be the issue.
Maybe some process is failing by my opinion.
So the problem is that sometimes when I put my finger on the fingerprint icon on the screen while the phone is locked, nothing is happening, the fingerprint icon is not active and it doesn't read my finger. So I need to enter my pincode, the fingerprint sensor is just not working at all. When I unlock the phone with pincode and then lock it, the fingerprint is now working, until sometime later.
I'll be very thankful if someone can help me with this.
Thank you!
AndroidIsTheBestt said:
Hello,
I have this phone for near 1 year and I always had this problem.
The problem is not happening very often but it happens by time on time.
It was happening more often before, when the phone stays with locked screen for a longer period.
But now it happens whenever it wants and I can't understand what could be the issue.
Maybe some process is failing by my opinion.
So the problem is that sometimes when I put my finger on the fingerprint icon on the screen while the phone is locked, nothing is happening, the fingerprint icon is not active and it doesn't read my finger. So I need to enter my pincode, the fingerprint sensor is just not working at all. When I unlock the phone with pincode and then lock it, the fingerprint is now working, until sometime later.
I'll be very thankful if someone can help me with this.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that's by design. After a certain amount of time you're asked to login using you password. Once you've entered your password the timer gets reset.
I've seen this on other phones and it also happens on both of my 8Ts.
BillGoss said:
I believe that's by design. After a certain amount of time you're asked to login using you password. Once you've entered your password the timer gets reset.
I've seen this on other phones and it also happens on both of my 8Ts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, Bill. This kinda answers my question, too bad there is no security option to define if you want this or no.
On my OP 8T the fingerprint stopped working well after gluing the protective glass. Without the glass it works fine.

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