# Android: Smart lock never works **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758 "2020-09-16T13:18:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/1 "2020-09-16T13:18:29Z")
The last three phones that I’ve owned, including the LG stylo 6 I bought not more than two weeks ago; the “Smart Lock” feature never works. I just want my damn phone to unlock when I get home. I’ve tried smart lock by location, and smart lock by “trusted device”. Trusted device will sometimes work and location never does. Has anyone else had the same experience? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/2 "2020-09-16T13:21:16Z")
I completely forgot such a thing exists. I tried it the first few days and it never worked. Out of sight, out of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/3 "2020-09-16T13:24:32Z")
It works sometimes but most of the time no. But for me I’m pretty sure that the corporate software that secretly controls my phone is to blame. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/4 "2020-09-16T16:43:55Z")
It’s always worked great on my various Samsung Androids. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/5 "2020-09-17T03:21:12Z")
I just checked, and I forgot that I had it set up. Now I need to check to see if it works, it’s been troublesome on past phones. But honestly, now that I have the phone set up to unlock with a fingerprint, having my phone locked just isn’t a problem now. It unlocks quickly. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/6 "2020-09-17T04:00:34Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Has anyone else had the same experience? Yup. I have my phone to be unlocked when I’m at home, and it’s unlocked sometimes. Just sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/7 "2020-09-17T14:59:03Z")
IIRC Smart Lock depends on detecting your location, or a Bluetooth device. For location to work, I had to liberally add points all around my property in probably a 1/2 mile radius, that got the accuracy up to 90% or so but it was never perfect. If you have a Bluetooth device in your house that tends to work more reliably with Smart Lock. I’ve never understood why WiFi can’t be used for Smart Lock, I would assume the router has a unique MAC address that Smart Lock could recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/8 "2020-09-17T16:29:01Z")
Mine works almost all the time. Occasionally it kicks off, but I just go reset it and it works fine again. Maybe once every three months. The features that keep it active yet off in a pocket that’s moving works fine, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/9 "2020-09-17T17:48:57Z")
Huh. Never tried it. The one person in the world most likely to snoop my phone if it was unlocked lives with me. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-smart-lock-never-works/920758/10 "2020-09-17T19:25:27Z")
SmartLock works fine on my Pixel 3a. It unlocks when it detects the Bluetooth device that connects to my stereo. That’s my “trusted device.” Of course, Bluetooth has to be turned on (in the phone – it’s always on for the stereo), which it never is unless I’m listening to music. Range isn’t a problem – I live in a not overly large NYC apartment. How big is your house? How far are you from the trusted device? That may be the issue.