Android: bypass fingerprint based on predefined places?

Android 13 / Samsung S20 user here

Is there any chance to bypass the security (fingerprint) protection on a predefined place?

Context: I’d like my cel to be protected by fingerprint/passcode overall, except in my house - as the fingerprint reader does not work too well and its becoming a nuisance. So basically I want my phone protected anywhere, except at home.

I “think” there is a way to do it (being connected to my home’s WIFI tells the phone you are home, even w/out GPS enabled) … but I don’t know really.

any takers?

On my phone, the feature is called ‘Smart Lock’ (Settings>Biometric & Security>Smart Lock) and it can be configured to be unlocked in trusted places, or on-body (ie if you already unlocked it and it keeps moving without being put down), or in proximity to trusted devices. My phone is Android, but not sure if this is a stock Android feature, or something added in by the phone manufacturer (in my case, Huawei).

I carry a Pixel 5, which is stock Android. It has the Smart Lock setting. I use it so my phone doesn’t lock when connected to my car’s bluetooth. If the phone is locked when I get in, I need to unlock it once - it doesn’t unlock automatically just for being in the car.

On Samsung OneUI, the Smart Lock feature is found under Lock Screen. From the descriptions above, it sounds exactly the same, so I think it’s a stock Android feature that Samsung have not modified significantly. There are 3 options, one of which is exactly what OP wants - “Trusted Places”. My home address is already known from my Google account, and you can add other places via map interface.

There is also “On-body detection”, which I have never used - apparently it stays unlocked so long as it detects motion, i.e. so long as you are carrying it. Presumably it would only lock if you put it down somewhere or dropped it. I don’t feel comfortable with this.

There’s also “Trusted devices”, where the obvious use cases would be a connected watch or a Bluetooth connection to your car.

On my pixel, you can find smart lock under
Settings
Security& privacy
More security settings

I have an Android Samsung S10e. On my UI it’s as @Riemann describes. I’d never explored those features before.

I was surprised that the “trusted devices” feature does not extend to wi-fi; just Bluetooth. So if configured my phone would stay unlocked near my car or my earbuds, but not at home where it “hears” my Wi-Fi.

The “trusted places” feature sounds useful for folks who live alone, don’t have kids, and live in detached single family housing. My address has ~1,000 people living at it, and if I leave my phone at the apartment pool or wherever that’s exactly when I do NOT want it to stay unlocked.

“On-body” sounds dangerous too. I often end up with my phone “live” in my pocket composing garbage texts or emails or starting apps at random. Last time I caught it, the darn thing was trying to pay for parking where I wasn’t.

I’m sure there are use cases for this, but what I really want is “unlock when I want to use it” Which the facial recognition feature does very well. I use a pattern too, but that’s only to foil the “unlock in my pocket” gremlin.

I imagine because there are exploits with WiFi where a device configured to connect to a secure WiFi network can be tricked into automatically connecting to an open WiFi network if it is named with the same SSID (so if someone knew your WiFi network name, they would be able to unlock your phone)

SSID spoofing has a long & sordid history of course.

But with the real wi-Fi security systems in place now my phone can tell the difference between my actual wi-Fi base station and an imposter by whether or not it can initiate an encrypted session successfully. Even if it doesn’t go on to use that session after establishing the base station’s bona fides.

It could do that, but do you want to wait for that to happen before the phone unlocks?

Just want to say that this thread is exactly what I’ve been needing to know. Thanks for the OP and to the responses!!!

For future readers, it looks like in Android 14 Smart Lock has been renamed to “Extend Unlock”, but on my Pixel is still under Security & privacy, More security & privacy.

It still has exactly the same three options as Smart Lock: on body, location, and bluetooth.

That makes sense - it really should always have been named [something] Unlock, since it’s overriding when it would otherwise lock by default.