This Gemini update for Android lets you do more without unlocking your phone

Gemini running on a Pixel 9 Pro.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Gemini has been obtainable as a Google Assistant replacement for some time now. At first, Gemini wasn’t an particularly useful assistant as a result of it lacked many required options, however Google has been slowly rolling out new options to assist spherical out Gemini. 

As reported on 9to5Google, the newest characteristic rollout consists of the flexibility for Gemini to make calls and ship messages with out unlocking your telephone. With out this new characteristic enabled, once you try to make a name or ship a message via Gemini, you may be greeted with the “Please unlock to proceed” warning.

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With the characteristic enabled, Gemini can full the request with out you having to unlock your telephone’s display screen.

On my Pixel 9 Pro with Android 15 and the Google app model 15.47.29, the characteristic continues to be lacking. Seems the characteristic is out there for model 15.48 of the Google app; till you may have that model on the telephone, you may nonetheless need to unlock your machine earlier than inserting a name or sending a message utilizing Gemini. 

This can be a long-awaited characteristic as a result of, because it stands, it is not possible to take pleasure in true hands-free calling and messaging. Many instances, when driving, I’ve wanted to put a name however discovered myself having to drag over to unlock my telephone earlier than the decision or message might be positioned.

As regular, the rollout is going on slowly, so that you may not have the characteristic added but. It is arduous to foretell when your telephone will obtain the brand new characteristic as a result of Google is not precisely forthcoming on these rollout dates.

The "Gemini on lock screen" entry in Settings.

If that is what you see, then your Android telephone doesn’t have the added Gemini options.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

As soon as Google sees how welcome this new characteristic is, maybe the corporate will add different capabilities — like enjoying music from Gemini or beginning Maps navigation — with out the consumer having to first unlock the machine. Till these options come to fruition, Android can not declare true hands-free utilization.

Additionally: Best Google Pixel phones of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

You’ll be able to verify to see in case you have the characteristic by opening Gemini, clicking your profile photograph, tapping Settings > “Gemini on Lock Display.” In the event you see an entry for “Make calls and ship messages with out unlocking,” congratulations! You’ve got the characteristic. In any other case, be affected person: the most recent model of the Google app finally will arrive in your telephone, and you’ll place calls and ship messages, through Gemini, with out having to first unlock the machine.

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