It looks like Android 17 will finally add native App Lock to Pixel , at least according to some code spotted by Android Authority. This is a feature that a lot of Android skins and iOS have had for quite some time.
Essentially, what this would allow is for the user to “lock” an app behind Face Unlock, Fingerprint or even a passcode. Google already allows you to do this within Google Photos, actually.
Android Authority reports that this new API would allow default launchers to lock apps, eliminating the need to use third-party app lockers. This is currently how Pixel users have to lock up the apps they don’t want others to see.
Now, Google already has Private Space, but it lacks a native way to lock apps behind your screen lock or biometrics. Private Space was not designed for convenience, and when you move an app there, it is sequestered. Which is great for apps that you rarely use, but it does become an issue for apps you use daily. Private Space apps are also completely siloed from the rest of your system, because they are essentially running in a separate user profile.
Android 17’s first developer preview should be launching very soon
It’s interesting that Android Authority found this in the latest Android Canary release, since Android 17 is likely right around the corner. With the change in the Android release schedule this past year, Android 16 Developer Preview 1 launched in November 2024. So we’re technically already late this year. But if the release doesn’t happen this week, Google will likely wait until January.
It’s also important to note that just because code is found in an Android Canary build, it doesn’t mean it’s imminent. This is a feature that Google could be working on, and could get delayed until Android 17 QPR1, or even Android 18. We’ve seen this in the past that these features don’t always come right away, and sometimes don’t arrive at all.
