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Google’s Pixel 4 launches with face unlock security flaw (Update: Fix coming)
July 02, 2025
Update, July 04, 2025 (2:25AM ET):Google has confirmed toThe Vergethat it’s working on an eye detection toggle for the Pixel 4’s face unlock feature.
Google told the outlet that the toggle will be available via a software update in “the coming months.” This means Pixel 4 users will likely be in for a long wait until the feature comes to their devices.
The eye detection toggle is a key way to make the Pixel 4’s face unlock more secure, as users will need to be awake and looking at the phone in order for the device to be unlocked. Right now, the Pixel 4 face unlock will authenticate someone’s face if they’re sleeping, opening the door for abuse.
Original article, August 15, 2025 (4:40PM ET):Google’sPixel 4line launched only a couple of days ago, and a major issue with the devices’ face unlock feature has already been discovered. First spotted byBBC, users can unlock the Pixel 4 using the biometric face unlock even if their eyes are closed.
This is, for obvious reasons, aprivacyconcern. It allows attackers or authorities to more easily gain access to a person’s device without their permission. Whether the user is asleep or restrained, thePixel 4only needs to be raised toward their face for someone to gain access.
WhenBBCreached out to Google for comment, the company verified that this is how the Pixel 4’s face unlock security functionality works on its final software. Google’sface unlock support pagealso confirms this. The support page even warns users to keep their device in a safe place to avoid this type of attack and reminds them of Android’s lockdown functionality, which disables biometric unlocking so the device can only be unlocked with a PIN.
The fact that Google is allowing this type of security access through face unlock is surprising, especially since last month’s leaks fromNextriftrevealed a “Require eyes to be open” toggle switch, pictured above. This, however, was likely pre-release software on a prototype device.Android Authorityhas confirmed that this toggle switch is not present on either of its review units.
Android 10‘s code even hasbuilt-in supportfor it, yet it isn’t in the final software. Google very well could release this functionality eventually, but for early adopters, the current state of the Pixel 4 face unlock remains a significant security issue.
When asked about the face unlock feature, Google toldAndroid Authority:
We will update this article as we learn more about the Pixel 4’s face unlock system.
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