Whether the power button is not working on your Android phone or you are simply tired of constantly pressing it, there are numerous alternative ways to unlock and lock an Android device.
You can automate the whole process, double-tap to lock and unlock your Android, wake it up by hovering your hand over the screen, and more. Here are several ways to unlock and wake up your screen without a power button.
1. Automatically Have Your Phone Wake Up or Sleep
While most modern Android phones already have a lift to wake feature built-in, if you are using an older phone model, then you can still enjoy this cool feature thanks to an app called Gravity Screen.
Gravity Screen takes all the manual work out of turning your phone's screen on or off without the power button. It not only makes the power key obsolete but doesn't require any interaction from your end either.
Gravity Screen is a clever app that can detect your phone's motions. Based on sensor data, it can unlock the phone as soon as you pick it up or pull it out of your pocket. The app can function in the opposite way as well. So when you place your phone on a table or in your pocket, Gravity Screen will automatically switch it off.
You don't need to do much for configuring Gravity Screen. First, go ahead and download the app from the Play Store. When installed, launch it and grant the Device Administrator permission. That's all.
But in case you find it inaccurate, you can adjust the triggering angle. On Gravity Screen's home page, you have straightforward bars for the Pocket and Table sensors. Drag and test different angles until you're satisfied.
Download: Gravity Screen (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Take Advantage of Your Phone's Biometric Sensors
On phones with fingerprint sensors or facial recognition features, you need neither a power button nor a third-party app to unlock your phone. All you have to do is swipe your finger or show your face. So if they're available on your phone, go ahead and set them up. You should be able to locate them under Settings > Security.
In addition, some versions of Android have a software-based face unlock authentication mode. It doesn't require any special sensors and instead relies solely on the front-facing camera to scan your face. Before you learn how to employ it, do keep in mind that this is not nearly as secure as a PIN/fingerprint lock.
Android's face unlock feature is usually present at Settings > Security > Smart lock > Trusted face or Settings > Security > Face recognition.
Biometric authentication covers the unlocking process. But what about when you want to manually lock your phone and don't wait for the screen timer to kick in? To lock your phone without a power button, try double-tapping your screen. Many modern Android devices have a double-tap to unlock and lock feature available.
3. Double-Tap to Lock and Unlock Android
2 ImagesTo see whether the double-tap to turn on screen and double-tap to turn off screen features are enabled on your Android device, head into your Settings to take a look.
On a Samsung phone, you should go to Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures. Within the motions and gestures section, you will be able to find a number of handy settings, including double-tap to turn on and off your screen. This feature can also be used to lock your phone—double-tap to lock, double-tap to unlock.
Alternatively, if double-tapping your screen to lock and unlock your Android still isn't working, you can use a third-party app like Screen Off.
Screen Off adds a handy shortcut on your phone's home screen. You can tap it to immediately lock your phone. The app also supports Google Assistant, so you can say "Hey Google, Open Screen Off," and the voice assistant will automatically switch off the screen.
Download: Screen Off (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Wave to Unlock and Lock Your Phone
2 ImagesIf you're trying to wake up your screen without a power button, then you can replace the power key with your hands as well. An app called WaveUp lets you wake up or lock the phone by hovering your hand over the proximity sensors. Similar to Gravity Screen, WaveUp can turn on the screen when you pull the phone out of your pocket.
In addition, you can customize the wave combinations. So, for instance, to avoid accidentally triggering the service, you can ask WaveUp to wake up the phone only when you cover and uncover the sensor twice in succession.
WaveUp has a quick setup process too. By default, it comes enabled with the unlock gesture. To use it for locking the phone, activate the Lock Screen option and grant the Accessibility permission.
There are a handful of other settings you can customize to ensure WakeUp doesn't interrupt you when you're, for instance, playing a game. You can exclude specific apps, add a buffer before locking so you have the option to pause it, specify whether it should work in landscape mode, and more.
Download: WaveUp (Free)
5. Explore Your Phone's Other Built-In Gestures
2 ImagesWhile the double-tap to wake gesture is one of the most popular gestures to wake up your phone, other devices have different features you can use.
A common one is Lift to Wake, which automatically turns on your screen whenever you pick up your device. To see if your phone has a Lift to Wake feature, try searching for it in the search bar situated at the top of Settings.
While Lift to Wake won't unlock your phone without the power button, it will allow you to put your passcode in once the screen wakes up, or access an in-screen fingerprint scanner. If you want your phone to unlock when you use the lift to wake feature, then consider turning on the Smart Lock features.
You'll find your phone's Smart Lock features within your Lock Screen settings. Under Lock Screen, select Smart Lock and then activate any features you want to use.
On-body detection will keep your device unlocked while it's on your person. Trusted places will keep your device unlocked in certain locations, and Trusted devices will keep your device unlocked all the time it is near a trusted device.
How to Install Apps When Power Button Isn't Working
You might be wondering how you'd open your phone without the power button and how would you set up these alternative methods if your power button is not working and you can't turn on the display. Fortunately, there is a way to unlock your screen without a power button.
The easiest solution is to put your phone on charge. Once you plug in the cable, the screen will switch on to confirm the battery is charging. At this stage, you can manually enter your PIN or passcode on the lock screen and access your phone's settings or the Google Play Store as usual.
How to Uninstall These Apps
2 ImagesTo take over your phone's core functions like waking up the screen, some of these apps may have asked you for the Device Administrator permission. This means you won't be able to directly uninstall them if you wish to in the future.
Instead, first, you will have to revoke their Device Administrator permission. To do that, go to Settings > Apps & notifications or Apps > Advanced > Special app access > Device admin apps. Disable the permission for the app you'd like to remove and then continue with the standard uninstallation steps.
Open Your Phone Without the Power Button
Using your phone when something isn't working as it should is highly frustrating, especially if you can't get your screen to unlock. These apps and tips offer nifty replacements for your phone's power button if you're trying to lock or unlock your phone.
In recent years, manufacturers and app developers have become much more conscious of accessibility, and so there are now plenty of alternative ways to use your device if your screen, buttons, or microphone may have packed up.
