Google Smart Lock, sometimes referred to as Android Smart Lock, is a handy set of features introduced with Android 5.0 Lollipop. It solves the problem of having to constantly unlock your phone after it has been inactive by letting you set up scenarios where your phone can safely remain unlocked for longer periods of time. The feature is available on Android devices and some Android apps, Chromebooks, and in the Chrome browser.

This feature senses when your device is in your hand or pocket and keeps it unlocked. When you put your phone down, it automatically locks, so you don't have to worry about prying eyes.

It’s especially frustrating when your device keeps freezing when you’re comfortably at home. Enabling Smart Lock solves this by setting up trusted places, such as your home, office, or another place where you can leave your device unlocked for extended periods of time. However, this feature does require you to enable GPS, which will drain your battery faster.

Remember the Face Unlock feature? Introduced with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, it allowed you to unlock your phone using facial recognition. Unfortunately, the feature was unreliable and easy to trick with a photo of the owner. Now called Trusted Face, this feature has been improved and incorporated into Smart Lock; it allows the phone to use facial recognition to allow the owner to interact with notifications and unlock the device.