How To Keep Phone Unlocked At Home

To keep phone unlocked at home, Android offers Extend Unlock (formerly Smart Lock) with Trusted places and Trusted devices, while iPhone has no equivalent feature and relies on fast biometric unlocking.

How to keep phone unlocked at home with Android Extend Unlock

Android’s native home-unlock feature is called Extend Unlock on newer devices and Smart Lock on older devices. It is the only system-level option that automatically bypasses the lock screen when you are at a trusted location or connected to a trusted device. iPhone does not offer a location-based unlock feature, so this method applies only to Android users. Before setting it up, ensure you have a secure screen lock method (PIN, password, or pattern) already enabled, as Extend Unlock works on top of that. Google documents two relevant options for staying unlocked: Trusted places and Trusted devices.

Set up Trusted places to unlock at home

Trusted places uses your device’s location to keep your phone unlocked when you are at a specific location, such as your home address.

1. Open Settings on your Android device.
2. Go to Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Extend Unlock. If that path is not present, look for Security & location instead.
3. Turn on Use trusted places for Extend Unlock.
4. Ensure Location Accuracy and location access are turned on (this feature works best with Wi‑Fi enabled). Google says to turn on Location Accuracy and location access; it notes that Trusted places works best with Wi‑Fi.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to add your home location as a trusted place. The exact steps may vary by phone model and Android version.

Android 10 and up is required for the full benefits of Trusted places. Once set, your phone will remain unlocked whenever it detects you are at that location, bypassing phone lock screens until you leave the trusted area.

Use Trusted devices to stay unlocked

Trusted devices keeps your phone unlocked while it is connected to a Bluetooth device you trust, such as a smartwatch, Bluetooth speaker, or car system. This works anywhere, including at home.

1. Open Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Extend Unlock.
2. Tap Trusted devices, then Add trusted device.
3. Select a device from the list of paired Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth must be on. Google says Bluetooth must be on, and once the phone is connected to the trusted device, it stays unlocked.
4. Once connected to the chosen device, your phone stays unlocked automatically.

There is no home-only limit for Trusted devices; the feature works with any paired Bluetooth device you select. This is useful for keeping phone unlocked at home when connected to a smartwatch or a home speaker.

What iPhone users can do instead

iPhone has no setting to keep the phone automatically unlocked based on location or trusted devices. The closest alternative is to use Face ID or Touch ID for the fastest possible manual unlock. Apple's support page lists the iPhone models that support Face ID; that includes iPhone X and later models in the current list. On iPhone X and later, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and follow the prompts to set up Face ID. Apple's iPhone passcode setup page says to set a passcode from Settings > Face ID & Passcode on Face ID models. On models with a Home button, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and tap Add a Fingerprint to enroll a fingerprint. While these biometric methods do not bypass the lock screen entirely at home, they reduce the need to enter a passcode repeatedly. If you are locked out of your iPhone, you can follow standard recovery steps via iTunes or iCloud, but no native “stay unlocked at home” feature exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does keeping my phone unlocked at home reduce security?

Yes, it does. Anyone with physical access to your phone while it is unlocked can view your data, make changes, or access apps. Extend Unlock and Trusted devices still rely on a secure lock screen method underneath, but the phone will not prompt for it when the trusted condition is met. This is a trade-off between convenience and security.

Can I schedule when my phone stays unlocked at home?

No, Android’s Extend Unlock does not support scheduling by time of day. It works solely based on location (Trusted places) or Bluetooth connection (Trusted devices).

Can I choose which apps require authentication even when my phone is unlocked at home?

Many Android phones include a built-in app lock or privacy feature that lets you require a PIN, password, or biometric for specific apps at all times, even when the device is otherwise unlocked. Look for “App Lock” or “Privacy” in your phone’s settings. This is separate from Extend Unlock and lets you add an extra layer of security for sensitive apps like banking or messaging.

Will Trusted places work if my location is turned off?

No, Trusted places requires location access and Location Accuracy to be enabled. The feature uses your device’s GPS and Wi‑Fi networks to determine if you are at the trusted location. If location is off, the phone will not recognize the trusted place and will remain locked.

Do I need to keep Bluetooth on for Trusted devices to work?

Yes, Bluetooth must be turned on and connected to the trusted device for this feature to function. When the Bluetooth connection drops, your phone will lock according to your screen timeout settings. Reconnecting to the device will automatically unlock it again.

Related reading: How To Set A Password On Your Phone and How To Break Into A Motorola Phone.