I’m a pretty big fan of what Google is doing with its Pixel Watch and Pixel phone lineup. These devices are some of the best ways to experience Android on a smartwatch or a smartphone, and Google is continually making things even better. One particularly useful feature that Pixel Watch owners can take advantage of is the Watch Unlock functionality, which Google introduced in late 2023.
It’s a pretty well-hidden feature in that Google hasn’t really actively advertised, and unlike the Apple Watch, which has watch unlock turned on by default, you have to manually activate the feature on the Pixel Watch.
How Watch Unlock works
Watch Unlock is a really handy feature that allows your smartwatch to effectively bypass your other lock screen security functionality. It's great for those times when you need to access your phone but don't want to go through the hassle of dealing with face unlock or putting in your passcode or fingerprint. In other words, you can maintain your phone's security in the event that it's stolen or misplaced, but when it's just you at the office or at home, you don't have to jump through those same hoops as long as your watch is nearby.
When enabled, Watch Unlock lets you bring your watch close to your phone, and then it unlocks it, and based on some of the other settings you have selected (which we'll touch on more in a moment), you'll be given instant access to your last-used screen, or you'll be able to swipe up to access your device without needing to put in an unlock code.
How to use Watch Unlock on Pixel Watch
Now that you know a bit more about Watch Unlock, let's talk about how to actually use it. The first thing you’ll need is a Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2 and a Pixel phone running Android 13 or higher, like the Pixel 8 Pro. Unfortunately, Watch Unlock on the Pixel Watch doesn’t seem to work with any other Android devices, so if you’re not sporting the complete pair, you’re out of luck on using this handy little feature.
It should also be noted that Watch Unlock on the Pixel Watch doesn’t offer quite the same functionality as it does on the Apple Watch, which is the place that I have the most experience with this feature. On the Apple Watch, you can use Watch Unlock to unlock both your phone and other Apple devices, but you can also use it to unlock your phone. The Pixel doesn’t offer this same capability, but maybe Google will add it in the future, as it is really nice not always having to put in a code on a tiny screen like those found on smartwatches.
If you have the needed devices—a Pixel Watch and Pixel phone—then you can take advantage of Watch Unlock by activating it through the following steps:
First, navigate to the Google Pixel Watch app on your Pixel phone. Tap Watch preferences > Security > Watch Unlock and toggle it on.
You can also turn it on in Android settings by navigating to Settings > Security & privacy > Device Unlock> Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Watch Unlock. Either method will send you through a set of on-screen instructions that end with Watch Unlock activated.
Now that Watch Unlock is activated, you can use it in a few different ways. Like I mentioned before, how quickly you access your phone after using Watch Unlock will depend on some specific settings. If you have Skip lock screen turned on in your phone’s settings, having your Pixel Watch on your wrist, unlocked, and near your phone will take you directly to your last used screen. If you don’t have Skip lock screen turned on, then it will unlock your phone, but still display the lock screen, requiring you to swipe up to access the rest of your device.