Android 17 Beta 2 just dropped, and as you might expect, people are already diving in to see what’s new. Of course, others are diving in even further, analyzing code to see what might eventually arrive in the future.
That’s exactly what Android Authority is doing, uncovering a new feature that could make SIM PIN lock headaches a thing of the past. We’ve talked in-depth about how locking your SIM card can prevent some serious issues. But it can be troublesome to have to type in two sets of PINs whenever you turn on your phone.
Convenience without sacrificing security
In Android 17 Beta 2, it appears that Google is looking to make the security feature more streamlined. At least, that’s what the code looks like it might do. If this feature does go live, it will accomplish this by automatically entering the SIM PIN when you start up the phone.
When it comes to the details, the SIM PIN will be stored securely within Android, and it will automatically unlock when you type in your device PIN. For the most part, this still keeps things secure. If you remove the SIM, the lock is still in place.
And when you start up your phone each time, it will automatically unlock the SIM for you without any additional work. And while it looks to be in its early stages for now, the good thing is that it could still find its way into the official Android 17 release set to arrive in the summer.
Give the new beta a try
If you’re looking to try the latest Android 17 beta, you can register in the Android Beta Program if you have a modern Pixel device. This will give you early access to any new features that are set to arrive on Android.
For the most part, the experience should be stable. However, there have been known issues, so if you’re planning on using your primary device, you’ve been warned.
With that said, if you’re someone that uses the SIM PIN feature, you’re going to have to tough it out by continuing to enter your code before your device starts up. How many of you use the SIM PIN feature right now? And if so, does it feel inconvenient? Let us know in the comments.
