Face ID will end up coming standard on Android. Meanwhile, it's time to continue investigating various options to have this utility on our devices. Thanks to AutoInput, there is a new method to have Face ID on Android easily and without root, taking advantage of Android's own facial recognition and automating screen unlocking.
The goal is to achieve an experience very similar to that offered by Apple on its iPhones: pick up your phone, that the camera recognizes your face and the phone is ready to use without having to swipe or enter a PIN, pattern or password, and all without resorting to advanced processes or superuser permissions.
AutoInput: Face ID on Android made easy
AutoInput It's a Tasker plugin that lets you simulate taps, gestures, and actions on your phone's screen. They usually work together, but you won't need it for this specific function. While having both installed is the best way to get the most out of all its features, the developer has managed to make this Face ID work independently in AutoInput mode, acting on the lock screen once the system has recognized your face.
First of all, it's important to understand that Android now includes facial recognition This is achieved through features like Smart Lock and the security and biometrics sections of each manufacturer. This technology has been in the system for some time, but many users are unaware of it or haven't configured it, which is why it seems like a feature exclusive to some high-end models.
The first step is to follow our Android facial recognition tutorial to make sure that everything will work properly. It is absolutely necessary You need to do this, as it's essential for AutoInput to function properly. Without a correctly configured facial recognition system, the automation won't have anything to process.
Once the process is complete, download AutoInput from the Play Store through the following button:
Open the application, grant it the permits prompted and go to the home screen. Among the first options you will see the possibility of using the app in full for a period of 7 days or see an ad to unlock it completely for a day. We recommend this last option, since it is necessary to follow the tutorial and take full advantage of AutoInput's features without limitations while you configure the system.
This version of Face ID only works on devices with Android 7.0 Nougat or higherWhile it will work on Android Oreo and later versions without any additional steps, on Nougat you'll need to grant Accessibility permissions for the app to interact with the lock screen. Once granted, go to the option Auto Dimiss Keyguard and activate it so that the lock is automatically removed when the system detects your face.
If you have done everything correct so far, it is time to test that it works. Lock your phone and press the side button to activate the lock screen. Your mobile should detect your face and, if it does it well, unlock itself without having to swipe. If it's a little slow, you can play with two options in the same menu to optimize its operation, adjusting waiting times and sensitivity to facial detection.
You can see it in action in the following video:
Configure built-in facial recognition on Android
Although AutoInput helps automate the process, the heart of this system remains the Android's native facial recognitionThis function is present in many customization layers under sections such as Security, Biometrics or Passwords and security, and usually relies on the front camera to identify the registered face.
On most current mobile phones, you just need to go to the security settings and locate the facial recognition unlock option. It's usually found in a menu like Settings > Security or Settings > Passwords and Security. Once you're in that menu, you'll see the different locking methods available: PIN, pattern, fingerprint, and, on compatible models, facial recognition.
Once inside, you will have to Add your facial dataThe system will ask you to place your face within a square or circle on the screen and hold the phone at eye level. In a few seconds, a basic profile of your face will be generated, associated with your account and protected by the same main password as the device.
After completing this registration, your phone will be ready to unlock using your faceTo check, lock your device and press the power button while keeping the front camera pointed at you. You'll see the screen display a face icon or a padlock that changes to an unlocked state when detection is successful.
Google and several manufacturers insist that PINs and passwords remain the most secure methodsBut facial recognition is a nice added layer of convenience. Combined with AutoInput, it closely resembles Apple's Face ID, making the whole process feel like a single, continuous gesture.
How to use Smart Lock and improve facial accuracy
On many devices, especially on older versions of Android or skins very close to stock Android, facial recognition is managed from Smart LockThis section groups together several smart security-related features, such as trusted places, trusted devices, and, of course, the option to use your face to unlock.
To do this, we'll go to the settings menu and look for the section on "Security" (in some versions it's called "Security and Location") and we locate "Smart Lock"Enter your password, PIN, or pattern and tap "Facial Recognition." A security warning will appear indicating that someone with similar features could unlock the device and that this method is less secure than a PIN or a strong password.
In the next step, the system will ask you to use a environment with good lighting Hold the phone at eye level. Make sure your face is within the circle and wait until the initial registration process is complete, which usually only takes a few seconds. From then on, you can use your face to unlock your phone without having to navigate through any additional menus.
To disable facial recognition, simply follow the previous steps, but when you tap on "Facial recognition" you will have two options: "Improve facial recognition" and "Remove facial recognition"We tap on this last option, confirm the deletion, and the phone will no longer accept your face as an unlocking method.
Once facial recognition is set up, it is possible that if you slightly change your appearance (glasses, beard, different hairstyles) the detection will lose effectiveness. The option to improve recognition It's specifically designed to record variations in your face. When you use it, the system recaptures your face and expands the database of features it compares to each time you unlock your device.
You can repeat this process reducing the need constantly resorting to PIN or fingerprint in low light conditions or with changes in appearance.
Testing and optimizing facial unlocking in your daily life
I've been testing the facial recognition configured as we mentioned earlier, and It's a good complement to the fingerprint sensor (It doesn't replace it, thankfully). The phone doesn't go directly to the home screen in all implementations; in many cases, it simply allows you to swipe without using your fingerprint, thanks to the camera automatically recognizing the registered user.
The recognition is very fast; in just half a second you can see the icon change from a shape to an open padlock or something similar, but we must keep in mind that It is necessary to turn on the screen so the front camera can start working. With AutoInput and features like Auto Dismiss Keyguard, this swipe step is eliminated or automated, making everything smoother.
The main drawback is the relative slowness compared to the fingerprint sensorSince the latter remains virtually instantaneous in many models, and because it relies solely on the camera without advanced depth sensors, its robust security is less robust, standard tests with simple photographs often fail. Therefore, bypassing the system under normal usage conditions is not so trivial.
As long as we only have the camera as a means to recognize our face, the security of this function compared to that offered by the fingerprint sensor is more limited, but it is a very convenient addition If you don't want to use your fingerprint at certain times, if you're wearing gloves, or if the fingerprint reader is broken, you can disable it. Additionally, your PIN is always kept running in the background as a mandatory backup.
By combining integrated facial recognition with tools like AutoInput, Smart Lock, and each manufacturer's own security settings, Android manages to come quite close to the behavior of Apple's Face ID, offering a balanced mix of convenience, speed, and reasonable security for everyday use. taking advantage of features that are already included in the system but many users have not yet discovered it.
Catching up with Apple
It is becoming easier to get Face ID on Android without having to change your mobile phone or make advanced modifications. Huawei will offer its own version as standard in some of their devices, as well as other manufacturers who have already begun to integrate more sophisticated facial unlocking systems. This is just the second method we've shown you these past few weeks. have Face ID on Android leveraging software tools.
Despite the exclusivity of Apple's new unlocking system, the Android community has managed to catch up in a relatively short time. We can now use our face to unlock our Android device, and furthermore, We don't lose the fingerprint sensor along the way, allowing you to choose the method you prefer at any given time, depending on the situation and the environment in which you use the phone.
Day by day, The most popular unlocking method due to its speed and security remains the fingerprint.But interest in facial recognition is constantly growing. Thanks to solutions like Smart Lock, biometric settings from various manufacturers, and plugins like AutoInput, any user with a relatively recent mobile phone can experience Face ID without root access or technical complications, enhancing security and, above all, improving convenience in daily use.