Help Smart Lock isn't too smart!

MoodyBlues · Sep 21, 2019

I'd never used Smart Lock until recently, after getting sick of having to unlock the screen a million times a day. I set it to remain unlocked while at home, as clearly indicated under Trusted places:

(And, yes, it definitely has my home address as its location.)

But I found out yesterday at my vet's office--which is ≈4 miles from my house--that it doesn't work: it let me right in, without requiring unlocking.

So...what's the point? :thinking:

I debated whether to put this here or in Lounge, since I don't know if it's specific to this phone. I guess we'll see...

mikedt · Sep 21, 2019

Is the On-body detection activated and setup? Although I've no ideas how that works.

I use the Smart Unlock feature on my Huawei, and that's only got Unlock with Bluetooth device. I use a mains powered BT speaker in my living room. And if the phone isn't in range of it, it's locked.

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

mikedt said:
Is the On-body detection activated and setup?

No.

Although I've no ideas how that works.

Neither did I, until I started fiddling around with Smart Lock recently. Its requirements are definitely not for me--they're intended for people whose phones are on their body:

My phone is often in my hands, or in my pocket, but it's also frequently not! It's on my bed, or on the dining room table, etc. The 'Trusted places' option, with my house being the trusted place, was the perfect choice...or so it seemed.

I use the Smart Unlock feature on my Huawei, and that's only got Unlock with Bluetooth device. I use a mains powered BT speaker in my living room. And if the phone isn't in range of it, it's locked.

Interesting. That's the same concept as what I'm using, i.e., if the phone isn't in range of my house, it should lock--but doesn't. :thinking:

PitCarver · Sep 22, 2019

Haven't got Smart Lock to keep mine open, at home, yet.

GameTheory · Sep 22, 2019

@MoodyBlues

Do you have location settings set to high accuracy mode?

I get the same results as you, but that's because I have location set to battery saver mode which is far from accurate.

Why hasn't google added home wifi as trusted for smart lock? This is exactly what I need and want.

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

PitCarver said:
Haven't got Smart Lock to keep mine open, at home, yet.

If you do, please let us know your results, okay?

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

GameTheory said:
@MoodyBlues

Do you have location settings set to high accuracy mode?

Yes, definitely, and always have since setting up this phone.

I get the same results as you, but that's because I have location set to battery saver mode which is far from accurate.

Ha ha, battery saving isn't a concern for me, as I'm [almost] always within reach of a charger!

That's very interesting, though, that we're both getting the same results. I guess that points to it being something flaky in its logic.

Why hasn't google added home wifi as trusted for smart lock? This is exactly what I need and want.

You're not alone! That would leave nothing to be uncertain about. And it wouldn't have to be limited to just home Wi-Fi. If it allowed the user to enter the name of the network, it would work in all sorts of scenarios.

Does Google have a suggestion box? :thinking:

Hadron · Sep 22, 2019

Maybe the "smart unlock" only uses coarse location, so works at low precision even if you have high precision set?

I admit that I find the fingerprint unlock on my phone so little fuss that I don't worry about things like this, and have my screen set to lock the moment it turns off. Hence I've never tested how well it works for me.

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

Hadron said:
Maybe the "smart unlock" only uses coarse location, so works at low precision even if you have high precision set?

Yeah, but four miles is quite a distance! I could see if it stayed unlocked at my next door neighbors, but 4 miles?

I admit that I find the fingerprint unlock on my phone so little fuss that I don't worry about things like this, and have my screen set to lock the moment it turns off. Hence I've never tested how well it works for me.

I'll agree that fingerprint unlock is pretty easy, but even so I got sick of it. And since there's a feature that should have perfectly solved my problem, I figured I'd use it. I expect it to work. It annoys me that it doesn't! :mad:

GameTheory · Sep 22, 2019

MoodyBlues said:
Yeah, but four miles is quite a distance! I could see if it stayed unlocked at my next door neighbors, but 4 miles?

Smart lock is something I really want and could use, but I'm only interested in "trusted places" or if google adds the wifi thing we spoke about.

Now I just did a little googling and it seems that trusted places is hit or miss while all other smart lock options seem to work well.

According to this tutorial, trusted places has a radius of 50 meters, so it should not be unlocking 4 miles away. You also do need Gps and high accuracy mode set, which you do. Shows how poorly implemented this feature is.
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ck-trusted-places-any-android-device-0185359/

I just want to be able to whitelist my network SSID. This would make smart lock perfect for my use case.

Clementine_3 · Sep 22, 2019

I've tried to get it to work for many years on many phones and it never did. I restored to using Tasker and that did work. Now I just use the fingerprint scanner, easy enough.

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

Clementine_3 said:
I've tried to get it to work for many years on many phones and it never did.

Really? Wow...I assumed this was just a bug or fluke or something for me/my current phone. As noted, I'd never tried using it until now--I'm really surprised, and dismayed, to find this is a long-standing issue. Why on earth haven't they fixed it?! I don't understand offering a feature that not only fails now, but has failed for many years. They should just pull it until they get it right.

I restored to using Tasker and that did work.

I have Tasker but have never actually used it. Maybe I should!

Now I just use the fingerprint scanner, easy enough.

Meh... I want the damned thing to work like it's supposed to! :mad:

GameTheory · Sep 22, 2019

Umm, omg!

Thank's to @Clementine_3 's post I think I found what I want. I expect it should still work for newer android versions.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/a...r-marshmallow-unlock-when-connected-wifi.html

Will fiddle with this in a week or so when the schedule opens up. I'll try to remember this thread and to post back with results.

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

GameTheory said:
Smart lock is something I really want and could use, but I'm only interested in "trusted places" or if google adds the wifi thing we spoke about.

Yes, exactly the same for me.

Now I just did a little googling and it seems that trusted places is hit or miss while all other smart lock options seem to work well.

Oh, how nice! The *one* method we're interested in is the ONLY one that's flaky. Ugh.

According to this tutorial, trusted places has a radius of 50 meters, so it should not be unlocking 4 miles away. You also do need Gps and high accuracy mode set, which you do. Shows how poorly implemented this feature is.
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ck-trusted-places-any-android-device-0185359/

Thanks for the excellent link. I stepped through the relevant parts of its instructions, and tweaked a few things, but all the major points were already correct.

I just want to be able to whitelist my network SSID. This would make smart lock perfect for my use case.

You and me both, buddy, you and me both!

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

GameTheory said:
Umm, omg!

Thank's to @Clementine_3 's post I think I found what I want. I expect it should still work for newer android versions.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/a...r-marshmallow-unlock-when-connected-wifi.html

You piqued my interest, although Clementine already had.

I've just had a look at the Play page for the other app mentioned in that article, Secure Settings. While scanning its list of things it can do, look what jumped out and bit me:

• Run any GNU Linux command

That alone makes it worth a try.

Will fiddle with this in a week or so when the schedule opens up. I'll try to remember this thread and to post back with results.

I don't know. The very last activity on that page is this:

"Due to an error for Secure Settings being outdated, this thread will be closed.

07-25-2017 09:19 AM"

:thinking:

The app has been updated recently (January 8, 2019), but I'm debating trying the method in that article, for several reasons. One, it's not clear [to me] if root is needed. Two, the ominous final entry on that page. Three--and most worrisome--I just don't know if my sepsis-ravaged brain is up to it. :eek:

Maybe I'll wait and see if you have any luck with it, @GameTheory. I'd also like to hear from @Clementine_3 if the method on that page is how she did it, or if it was strictly through Tasker, or something else.

Clementine_3 · Sep 22, 2019

I just looked for my setup on Tasker, it is no longer there. I probably deleted it after I stopped using it.
Those settings look darn close to what I had working. I've never rooted a phone, just saying.
Give it a go, it did work...

edit:. Oh, I did and still do have secure settings and did use it for that.

GameTheory · Sep 22, 2019

MoodyBlues said:
I don't know. The very last activity on that page is this:

"Due to an error for Secure Settings being outdated, this thread will be closed.

07-25-2017 09:19 AM"

I saw that, but paid no mind to it once I saw it was updated. That thread should've remained open to continue discussion. Glad I'm not a member there. I hate over-moderated forums. Glad that nonsense doesn't happen here.

MoodyBlues said:
I just don't know if my sepsis-ravaged brain is up to it.

Oh, I don't even know if I'm up to it. The tut seems quite long and why I'm putting it off till I have plenty of free time to play with.

MoodyBlues said:
One, it's not clear [to me] if root is needed.

From other tuts I've seen that are similar, root is not required. I think my search term may have been "unlock android with tasker".

MoodyBlues · Sep 22, 2019

Thanks for the helpful info, @Clementine_3.

Knowing that root isn't necessary is a huge plus. I haven't rooted a device since 2013, and really don't want to now.

Hadron · Sep 23, 2019

Yes, 4 miles is far too crudee for even coarse location unless you are somewhere where there is only one transmitter within range. If it were to do something really simple-minded like "can I see a particular tower?" it could be that loose though (in ideal conditions a GSM handset can connect to a tower 35km away - the limit comes from signal timing. I don't offhand know the limits for UMTS, CDMA, LTE etc, but I'm sure all can do more than 4 miles).

MoodyBlues · Sep 23, 2019

Hadron said:
Yes, 4 miles is far too crudee for even coarse location unless you are somewhere where there is only one transmitter within range.

Pretty unlikely, what with being in a megalopolis and everything!

This whole thing has me scratching my head, as it's clearly been a known issue for many years now.

I think they should remove it as an option unless/until they fix it. I find it ludicrous that Google--of Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Street View, etc.--can't get this seemingly simple task right. As it is, it's a useless feature if I leave my house.

Milo Willamson · Nov 14, 2019

I simply use my moto actions to get into my fingerprint scan

MoodyBlues · Nov 14, 2019

Milo Willamson said:
I simply use my moto actions to get into my fingerprint scan

Huh? Your fingerprint scanner is always visible/accessible, so why do you need gestures to get to it?

And what does that have to do with 'Smart lock' not working correctly?!

In case anyone's still interested: I had the opportunity to test it in Downtown LA recently, about 17 miles from my house or, as it's also known, my one and only 'Trusted place.' As before, it unlocked without requiring anything... :rolleyes:

Milo Willamson · Nov 14, 2019

MoodyBlues said:
Huh? Your fingerprint scanner is always visible/accessible, so why do you need gestures to get to it?

And what does that have to do with 'Smart lock' not working correctly?!

In case anyone's still interested: I had the opportunity to test it in Downtown LA recently, about 17 miles from my house or, as it's also known, my one and only 'Trusted place.' As before, it unlocked without requiring anything...

I will be on my way, I did not read the entire thread yet...... my mistake.

MoodyBlues · Nov 18, 2019

Welcome to Android Forums, Olha Jones!

I have already sold this phone. I don't really like it. It doesn't work right

Interesting. I love mine! It works perfectly, and I've customized the hell out of it.

I'd be interested in hearing what about yours didn't work right, and why you disliked it. :thinking:

buratinio · Nov 3, 2020

To tell the truth, I don't like unlocking with fingerprint or face recognition. Indeed, it takes too much time and that annoys me that every time I have to wait until unlocking occurs. I have a simple geometric password, all the family and friends know it, but honestly, nobody rummages on my phone without asking or my permission. But if somebody stole it there is a special program with the help of it I will block the phone distantly and the police will find it immediately. But on the contrary, I'm very picky in choosing a door lock. I ordered the most secure new generation lock from https://www.palmgear.com/best-rv-door-lock/ and a bolt from the inside to sleep well in my house.

Help Smart Lock isn't too smart!

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