Pixel smartphone users know this well: while Google's software interface is often praised for its fluidity and exclusive AI-based features, some everyday details can be frustrating. Among them, the inability to turn off the screen by double-tapping the lock screen, a feature that has long been available on Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi.
A surprising delay for a basic function
On a Pixel, you can already turn on the screen by double-tapping. But trying the same thing to turn it off doesn't work. This paradox may finally disappear: clues in the fourth beta of Android 16 show that Google is working on adding this gesture. Although the feature isn't yet enabled in this version, a developer has managed to make it work manually. The result? A highly intuitive interaction: double-tap an empty area of the lock screen, and presto, the screen turns off.
The official arrival date of this feature remains unknown. Being absent from Android 16 Beta 4, it is unlikely that it will appear in the stable version of the system. Google could, however, introduce it in a quarterly update of Android 16, or even wait for Android 17. In the meantime, solutions exist for the most impatient.
An application called Pixel Toolbox, available on the Play Store, now allows you to add this function to Pixel smartphones. Simply install it, authorize its access as an accessibility service, then activate the corresponding option. The app, free with a €6 paid option, works on Pixel as well as other Android models.
Another alternative: use a customizable app launcher like Niagara or Nova, which allows you to assign a command (such as turning off the screen) to a double tap on the home screen. These launchers replace the smartphone's standard interface, offering other advanced options in the process.
Finally, Galaxy smartphone owners can already activate this gesture very easily from the settings by searching for "Double tap to turn off the screen." All that's left is to activate the switch to take advantage of this practical function.
Admittedly, adding a double tap to turn off the screen isn't a major change. But for users who perform this gesture dozens of times a day, it could significantly improve ergonomics and extend the life of the power button. Above all, it shows that Google, sometimes slow to adopt certain basic functions, is finally listening to the demands of its community.
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