Android 17 beta code hints at phone unlock for Googlebooks
Code in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 suggests Google is developing a feature that lets a nearby Android phone unlock a Googlebook laptop.
Code found in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 indicates that Google is working on a feature called "Phone Unlock for Googlebooks," according to Android Authority. The feature would let a nearby unlocked Android phone unlock a Googlebook laptop. Google has not announced it.
New setup screens in the beta suggest the feature could trigger automatically in several situations: when the laptop lid is opened, when the mouse is moved, or when a key is pressed.
A notification would appear on the phone after each unlock, according to the code.
The discovery points to a convenience already common in rival ecosystems. Apple has long allowed users to unlock a Mac with an Apple Watch.
Quick answers
What is Phone Unlock for Googlebooks?
It is an unannounced feature found in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 that would let a nearby unlocked Android phone unlock a Googlebook laptop.
When does the feature trigger?
Setup screens indicate it could trigger automatically when the lid is opened, the mouse is moved, or a key is pressed.
Has Google announced this feature?
No. The feature remains unannounced, and the details come from code in the beta.