Android 16 to Disable Watch Unlock for “Advanced Protection” – App Teardown

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📝 Key Points of This Article

• “Advanced Protection” is set to include a feature that disables “Watch Unlock.”
• An analysis of the app files for the Android “Google Play services” version v26.13 (version: 26.13.62 (260400-896079563)) update confirms the addition of resource code related to disabling “Watch Unlock.”
• This suggests that the disabling of “Watch Unlock” within the “Advanced Protection” program is moving toward a full-scale rollout.

“Advanced Protection,” an Android device and Google Account security feature deployed as a core feature of the new-generation “Android 16” OS, is evolving.

“Advanced Protection” operates by simultaneously enabling various device security features across six categories: “Device Security,” “Apps,” “Network,” “Web,” “Google Phone App,” and “Messages.” The specifics are dynamic, shifting through updates centered on the Android “Google Play services” app. In essence, new device and account protection features are being added over time.

An “app analysis” has revealed that a new security feature will soon be implemented: the ability to disable “Watch Unlock,” which allows an Android device to be unlocked nearly automatically when a nearby Google Pixel Watch series device is in an unlocked state.

An analysis of the Android “Google Play services” app update version v26.13 (version: 26.13.62 (260400-896079563)), released around Tuesday, April 7, 2026, confirmed the addition of resource code regarding the disabling of “Watch Unlock.” It appears that when “Advanced Protection” is enabled, “Watch Unlock” will be automatically deactivated.

<string name="aapm_disable_watch_unlock_feature_summary">Locks device to help prevent unauthorized access from other devices</string>
<string name="aapm_disable_watch_unlock_feature_title">Turns off Watch Unlock</string>
<string name="aapm_rollout_card_summary_watch_unlock">To help protect your device, Watch Unlock has been turned off to prevent unauthorized access from other devices.</string>
<string name="aapm_rollout_notification_watch_unlock_text">To help protect your device, Watch Unlock has been turned off</string>

Resource code related to disabling “Watch Unlock” within “Advanced Protection” had actually existed in a preliminary state within the “Google Play services” app files for some time. However, the latest update has replaced this placeholder with more detailed content.

This suggests that the disabling of “Watch Unlock” as part of the “Advanced Protection” program may finally be approaching a full-scale deployment.

“Google Play services” App Link