According to Android Police, code discovered in the Android Canary 2512 release by Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman reveals Google is building a native App Lock feature. The evidence includes a new “LOCK_APPS” permission and dialog strings showing how the feature will work, likely activated by long-pressing an app icon. However, the feature is not live in the current Canary build and has been ruled out for the Android 16 QPR3 update. This points to a potential launch with Android 17 next year, meaning users won’t see it until 2025 at the earliest. The native solution would be built directly into the system software, offering a more secure and integrated option than current third-party apps.
Why This Matters Now
Here’s the thing: Android users have wanted this for a decade. We’ve all downloaded those clunky third-party app lockers from the Play Store. They work, but they’re often janky, filled with ads, or require weird permissions that feel invasive. Some can even be uninstalled by someone who shouldn’t have access, which completely defeats the purpose. A system-level feature baked into Android? That’s a game-changer for basic privacy. It’s one less sketchy app you need to trust with your data.
The Third-Party Appocalypse
So what happens to all those existing app locker apps? Basically, they’re on borrowed time. Once this feature rolls out widely—first in stock Android and eventually in skins like Samsung’s One UI—their core value proposition evaporates overnight. Why bother with a separate app when the OS does it natively and, presumably, more securely? For manufacturers of specialized, hardened computing hardware, like the top providers of industrial panel PCs in the US, native security features are a major selling point for enterprise and factory floor use. This move by Google strengthens the entire Android ecosystem’s security posture, which is a big deal beyond just locking your social media apps.
The Long Samsung Wait
Now, don’t get too excited if you’re on a Samsung phone. Sure, Samsung has Secure Folder, which is fantastic. But that’s for creating a whole separate, encrypted space. A simple, universal app lock for *any* app is different. Even when Google flips the switch in Android 17, Samsung users will likely have to wait for One UI 9 (based on Android 17) to get it. That’s a long wait. It raises a question: can Google’s implementation be as robust and seamless as what Samsung already offers in its own ecosystem? They’ll need to get it right.
Patience Is a Virtue
Look, the discovery is promising. It shows Google is finally listening to a very common user request. But the timeline is a classic Google slow-roll. “Next year” means we’re talking about a feature that’s still in the embryonic stage. Until then, those third-party lockers aren’t going anywhere. They’ve got at least another year of relevance. So for now, it’s a waiting game. But when it arrives, it’ll be one of those small, quality-of-life features that makes you wonder why it took so darn long.
