Android gets a function to hide number key animations when entering a pin

Android is getting a feature to disable the animations when entering the phone’s PIN when unlocking. For example, it must be less clear to bystanders which numbers the user enters.

Android 13 Enhanced Privacy

The feature can now be found in a beta of Android 13’s upcoming feature drop, writes 9to5Google. The feature is called Enhanced Pin Privacy there. Disabling the animations makes copying more difficult, as the screen no longer confirms which number has been pressed.

The timing of the feature is striking, as pin code copying in the United States has been in the spotlight recently. If thieves have first copied the PIN code, they can access everything after stealing the phone, reset passwords and take over the victim’s digital life. That attention came after a article in The Wall Street Journal. The feature will presumably come in the next feature drop, which is scheduled for June.