Google Pixel Phones May Soon Get Double-Tap to Lock Feature with Android 16

Google’s Pixel smartphones could soon receive a long-awaited feature: the ability to double-tap the screen to lock the device. According to a new report, this functionality may be introduced with Android 16.

While Pixel devices are widely praised for their smooth performance, clean design, and exclusive AI features, they have traditionally lacked some of the more advanced gestures available on rival Android phones. Although users can currently double-tap to wake the screen, the option to double-tap to lock it has been notably absent – a feature that has long been available on devices from brands like Samsung and OnePlus.

Android Authority reports that evidence of the feature has been discovered in Android 16 Beta 4. Tech insider Mishaal Rahman revealed that while the setting isn’t currently active or visible to users, clues within the software suggest that Google is actively developing it.

However, users eager to see the feature soon may have to wait a little longer. According to the report, the double-tap to lock gesture is unlikely to be included in the stable release of Android 16. Instead, it might debut in the first major update following the initial launch.

The move aligns with Google’s broader push to make Pixel devices more competitive with flagship offerings from other manufacturers. Recent Pixel models have increasingly mirrored rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series and the OnePlus 13, not only in hardware and design but now seemingly in software features as well.

For now, the double-tap to lock gesture remains hidden, but its development signals Google’s intent to refine the Pixel user experience and close the feature gap with other premium Android smartphones.