Android native App Lock returns in Canary build with support for protecting multiple apps

Google is testing a native App Lock feature again through Android Canary 2608, giving Pixel users an early look at a system-level method for securing individual applications. The feature appears under Security and privacy settings and allows selected apps to be protected behind a PIN, password or biometric authentication. A particularly useful change compared with earlier experiments is the ability to select multiple apps rather than configuring protection one application at a time.

Native App Lock has long been requested by Android users who want additional protection for banking, messaging, photo or work applications even after a phone itself has been unlocked. Some manufacturers already provide their own versions, but a Google implementation could create more consistent behaviour across Android devices. The feature remains in a Canary development build, meaning ordinary users should not expect immediate availability on every phone.

Google could change or remove elements before a stable rollout. Even so, the working implementation is a strong sign that App Lock is moving closer to becoming a standard Android feature. For people who share devices with family or occasionally hand an unlocked phone to someone else, it could provide a simple extra layer of privacy.