Android 13 QPR3 introduces a new toggle called “Enhanced PIN privacy” in the latest preview build of what will eventually be the June Pixel Feature Drop. This toggle works to keep your PIN safer from anyone who would try to watch it from a distance.
The security of one’s smartphone and the pin, password, or pattern used to unlock it has received a lot of attention in recent months. After all, if you can get into someone’s phone, you almost always have full access to their digital life, including the ability to change important passwords like your Google Account.
Android 13 QPR3 Beta
As a result, Google has developed a new method for protecting your lockscreen PIN on Pixel phones; however, once updated, the feature should also work on other Android devices. If you use PIN unlock with the most recent Android 13 QPR3 Beta installed, you should see a new toggle titled “Enhanced PIN privacy” under Settings > Security & privacy > Device lock > Gear icon.
When entering your PIN, your button presses are displayed on the lockscreen when protection is disabled, which is the default setting. Similarly, the actual PINs appear on the screen and disappear after a few seconds or when you press another number.
This original design is meant to make it easier to see when you’ve pressed the wrong digit while also providing some level of security. However, it has the unintended consequence of making your precise PIN visible to anyone watching.
Enhanced PIN privacy
When Enhanced PIN privacy is turned on, pressing any of the number buttons does not cause any visible animation. The only visual change is the addition of a new star to the box to indicate that you pressed a button. The length of your PIN is the only thing a person looking at your phone would know for sure from a distance.
Unfortunately, Android wisely blocks all screenshots and recordings of entering your lock screen PIN, making the feature somewhat difficult to demonstrate visually. In his overview of Android 13 QPR3 features, my colleague Damien Wilde should be able to provide a comprehensive look at Enhanced PIN privacy in the coming days.
Even though the feature is currently available as part of the Android 13 QPR3 Beta, there is always the possibility that Google will remove it before release. Having said that, it appears to function precisely as intended, so we believe it will be included in the June Pixel Feature Drop.