Overview
- Android Authority found references to an App Lock API in a recent Android Canary build, with Android Headlines corroborating the discovery.
- The implementation would allow the default launcher to require authentication before opening selected apps, reducing reliance on third-party app lockers.
- Reported strings indicate support for Face Unlock, fingerprint, or a passcode to unlock protected apps.
- Coverage contrasts this approach with Private Space, which sequesters apps in a separate profile and proves cumbersome for frequently used apps.
- Timing remains uncertain, as Canary code does not guarantee release and the feature could slip past Android 17’s initial launch to a later QPR or a future version.