Earlier this year, Google expanded its anti-theft and data protection capabilities by introducing the Identity Check feature. This addition aims to verify that the individual attempting to access your device is indeed you.
The extra security measure activates only when your device is outside designated trusted locations, requiring biometric authentication—such as fingerprint or facial recognition—when trying to access sensitive account or device settings. This feature is designed to ensure that even if your passcode, PIN, or pattern is compromised, unauthorized users cannot access sensitive data on your phone or alter critical settings, such as changing your Google Account password.
However, enhanced security comes with certain trade-offs. Whenever you attempt to access sensitive settings away from a trusted location, you will be required to authenticate using biometric verification.
While this may feel like an inconvenience, it can be viewed as a necessary speed bump in a journey toward enhanced security. Google is actively seeking ways to streamline this authentication process, potentially by allowing your wearable devices to verify your identity.
According to sources from Android Authority, recent changes in a beta version of Google Play Services suggest that your connected smartwatch could soon serve as a reliable companion to confirm it’s you trying to access critical settings outside a trusted zone. For this integration to work, your smartwatch would need to be linked to the same Google account, and it must be unlocked and worn in close proximity to your phone.
If your smartphone is stolen, the distance between it and your watch—safely strapped to your wrist—would trigger Identity Check’s protections. Furthermore, if the watch is taken off, it would lock automatically, thereby reinforcing the security measures in place.
Currently, the smartwatch authentication feature for Identity Check is still in development, and its release timeline remains uncertain.
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