Unlock your Pixel device with your face

You can create a unique model of your face to unlock your Pixel device with Face Unlock. To create the face model, you take images of your face from different angles during setup.

Tip: This feature is available on Pixel 7 and later Pixel devices, including Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.

• Face models may be considered biometric data in some jurisdictions.
• When you look at your device, you can unlock it even when you don’t intend to.
• Face Unlock may be less secure than a strong PIN, pattern or password.
• Your device can be unlocked by someone who looks a lot like you, like an identical sibling.
• Your device can also be unlocked by someone else if it’s held up to your face. Keep your device in a safe place, like your front pocket or handbag. To prepare for unsafe situations, learn how to turn on lockdown.
• When there isn’t sufficient light or when you have a face cover or sunglasses, Face Unlock might not work. For a more seamless unlock experience, we recommend you also set up Fingerprint Unlock.

You can choose whether you want to use Face Unlock to:

• Unlock your phone
• Verify it’s you in apps

To change these settings:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Security & privacy 👁 and then
   Device unlock 👁 and then
   Face.
3. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
4. Under “Use Face to,” adjust the setting you want to change.

You can change these settings for how Face Unlock works:

• Require attention on screen: When turned on, you must look directly at the screen to unlock your device.
• Always require confirmation: When turned on, you'll take an additional confirmation step when you use Face Unlock to sign in to apps or approve a payment.
• Skip lock screen: When turned on, you'll go directly to your last used screen after you unlock.

To change these settings:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Security & privacy 👁 and then
   Device unlock 👁 and then
   Face.
3. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
4. Under “When using Face Unlock,” adjust the setting you want to change.

To delete your face model:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Security & privacy 👁 and then
   Device unlock 👁 and then
   Face.
3. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
4. Under “Face,” tap Delete 👁 Image
   .
5. In the on-screen prompt, tap Delete.

To change your face model:

Important: If you have an existing face model, you must delete your old one, then add the new model.

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Security & privacy 👁 and then
   Device unlock 👁 and then
   Face.
3. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
4. Under “Face,” tap Add face.
5. Follow the on screen instructions to set up your new face model.

Face Unlock doesn’t recognize my face

• Confirm that you enabled face to unlock your device.
  1. On your Pixel device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Security & privacy 👁 and then
     Device unlock 👁 and then
     Face.
  3. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
• Check that you aren’t in a low light environment, such as a dark room.
• Remove anything that blocks your face, such as sunglasses or a face mask, and try again.
• Make sure you set up Face Unlock for your most usual appearance. For example:
  • With or without make-up
  • With or without a headscarf
  • With or without glasses
• If your appearance changes significantly, you can delete and re-enroll your face.

Face Unlock activates too often

If Face Unlock activates too often, you can adjust “Tap to check phone” and “Lift to check phone” settings. Turning both settings off will make Face Unlock activate less frequently, reducing unintentional unlocks.

When these options are turned off, you must press the power button to wake the screen and activate Face Unlock.

Face Unlock doesn’t activate at all

• Confirm that “Tap to check phone” and “Lift to check phone” are turned on.
• Tap the screen and see if there’s an animation (or a ring) around the camera, which indicates that it’s scanning for your face.
• Confirm that you have "Face Unlock" turned on:
  1. On your Pixel device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Security & privacy 👁 and then
     Device unlock 👁 and then
     Face.
  3. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
  4. Confirm that "Face Unlock" has been set up.
     • If there is an option to “Add face,” then Face Unlock hasn’t been set up.
  5. Under “Use Face to,” confirm that Unlock your phone is turned on.

• Set screen lock on your Pixel phone
• Choose when your Pixel phone can stay unlocked
• How to unlock your Pixel phone with your fingerprint
• Manage security & privacy settings on your Pixel phone