Whether the power button does not work on Android or you are just tired of constantly pressing it, there are plenty of alternative ways to unlock and lock your Android device.
You can automate the whole process, wake it up by passing your hand across the screen, etc. Here are several ways to unlock your Android phone with a broken screen or when the power button is not working.
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1. Make your phone automatically wake up or sleep
Gravity Screen takes away all the manual labor required to turn your phone’s screen on or off. This not only makes the power key obsolete, but doesn’t require any interaction on your part either.
Gravity Screen is a smart app that can detect your phone’s movements. Based on the sensor data, it can unlock the phone as soon as you pick it up or take it out of your pocket. The app can also work in the opposite way. So when you place your phone on a table or in your pocket, Gravity Screen automatically turns it off.
You don’t need to do much to configure Gravity Screen. First of all, go ahead and download the app from the Play Store. Once installed, launch it and grant permission to device administrator . That’s all.
But in case you find it inaccurate, you can adjust the trigger angle. On the Gravity Screen home page, you have single bars for the Pocket and Table sensors. Slide and experiment with different angles until you are satisfied.
Download: Gravity Screen (free, premium version available)
2. Take advantage of your phone’s biometric sensors
On phones with fingerprint sensors or facial recognition features, you don’t need a power button or a third-party app to unlock your phone. All you have to do is swipe your finger or show your face. So if they are available on your phone, go ahead and set them up. You should be able to locate them under Settings> Security .
In addition, Android also has a software-based facial unlock authentication mode. It does not require any special sensor and relies only on the front camera to scan your face. Before you learn how to use it, keep in mind that it is not as secure as a PIN / fingerprint lock.
Android’s face unlock feature is present in Settings> Security> Smart Lock> Trusted Face .
Biometric authentication covers the unlocking process. But what about when you want to manually lock your phone and don’t wait for the screen timer to go off? For this you will need to install a third party app like Screen Off.
Screen Off adds a handy shortcut to your phone’s home screen. You can tap it to immediately lock your phone. The app also supports Google Assistant. So you can say “Hey Google, open screen disabled” and the voice assistant will automatically turn off the screen.
Download: Screen Off (free)
3. Wave to unlock and lock your phone
You can also replace the power key with your hands. An app called WaveUp lets you wake up or lock the phone by running your hand over the proximity sensors. Similar to Gravity Screen, WaveUp can light up the screen when you take the phone out of your pocket.
In addition, you can customize the combinations of waves. So, for example, to avoid accidentally triggering the service, you can ask WaveUp to wake up the phone only when you cover and uncover the sensor twice in a row.
WaveUp also has a quick setup process. By default, it is activated with the unlock gesture. To use it to lock the phone, activate the option Lock screen and grant permission to accessibility.
There are a handful of other settings that you can customize to make sure WakeUp doesn’t interrupt you when you are playing, say, a game. You can exclude specific apps, add a buffer before locking, so you have the freedom. possibility to suspend it, to specify if it should work in landscape mode, etc.
Download: WaveUp (free)
4. Explore your phone’s built-in gestures
Phones from a range of manufacturers have built-in gestures that you can explore to mimic the functions of the power key. The most common is the gesture Double Tap to Wake . It is available on phones from Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Samsung, etc. The shortcut allows you to wake up the phone by double-tapping the screen.
Another gesture that you can check is to double tap to lock . Once activated, you can double-tap anywhere in any empty space on the home screen to lock the phone.
By searching for the name of the gesture in the search bar at the top of Settings , you should be able to find the relevant options in most scenarios. Otherwise, you can consult Settings> Display or visit the section Help on the manufacturer’s website.
A few phones like those running Android Pie also have a gesture called Lift to Check Phone . When this is active, your phone screen will light up as soon as you lift the phone.
How to install apps when the power button isn’t working
You might be wondering how to set up these alternate methods if your power button isn’t working and you can’t turn on the screen. Fortunately, here’s how to unlock your phone with a broken screen.
The easiest solution is to charge your phone. Once you plug in the cable, the screen will light up to confirm that the battery is charging. At this point, you can manually enter your PIN or password on the lock screen and go to your phone settings or Google Play Store as usual.
How to uninstall these apps
To support your phone’s main functions, such as screen wake-up, some of these apps may have asked you for permission from the device administrator. This means that you won’t be able to uninstall them directly if you want to in the future.
Instead, you’ll need to revoke their device administrator permission first. To do this, go to Settings> Apps & notifications> Advanced> Special app access> Device administration apps . Disable the permission for the app you want to remove, and then continue with the standard uninstall steps.
SEE ALSO: The 5 Best Sites to Download Android APKs Safely
Get the most out of your phone’s physical buttons
These apps and tips offer nifty replacements for your phone’s power button. They will come in handy whether you are bored of pressing buttons or the power button on your Android device is not working.
