Abstract
- Google launched the app pinning characteristic to Android again in 2014’s Lollipop launch.
- For years, I’ve stored the characteristic enabled as an added safety measure.
- App pinning is disabled by default — here is find out how to toggle the setting on.
Some of the underappreciated instruments inside Google’s Android working system is undoubtedly its little-known app pinning perform. First launched in Android 5.0 Lollipop all the best way again in 2014, app pinning lets you isolate a single app on display screen, eradicating the power to swipe it away.
Successfully, this serves as an added layer of safety and management over your Android gadget. Disabling the power to return to the house display screen, to enter the multitasking display screen, or to open one other app could be helpful in particular contexts. For instance, if a stranger asks to borrow your telephone to make a name, or if you want to give your telephone to a cranky toddler, app pinning gives some much-needed peace of thoughts.
In newer variations of Android, it is also doable to allow the choice to require a PIN or password upon exiting a pinned app. For essentially the most half, I might advocate toggling this on, as it is safer on the entire. Curiously, Google (and lots of third-party Android OEMs) ship gadgets with app pinning turned off by default. I believe this can be a mistake, because it results in the characteristic’s continued underutilization.
This is find out how to allow app pinning by yourself Android telephone or pill, in addition to directions on find out how to enter and exit app pinning mode as soon as enabled.
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How do I arrange app pinning on Android?
The choice is buried inside the Settings app
Whereas the exact interface and verbiage may defer barely from one Android gadget to a different, the final course of stays the identical. To get app pinning up and working in your handset or slate, observe these steps:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Navigate to Safety & privateness.
- Faucet on Extra safety & privateness > App pinning.
- Inside the principle App pinning web page, toggle on Use app pinning.
- For an added layer of safety, you’ll be able to optionally toggle on Ask for PIN earlier than unpinning.

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How do I pin and unpin an app to my display screen?
Pinning is invoked by way of current apps / overview display screen
As soon as you have gone forward and enabled app pinning from inside Settings, it is time to get cracking. To pin a selected app to your display screen, observe these steps:
- Navigate to your Android gadget’s current apps / overview display screen.
- Faucet on the app icon of the app you are trying to pin.
- Faucet on the Pin button inside the menu that seems on the display screen.
- From right here, your app will stay pinned till you manually determine to unpin it.
The steps required to unpin an app depend upon whether or not your Android gadget is configured with gesture navigation or 3-button navigation. With the previous, unpinning is achieved by swiping up and holding onto the house bar for a number of seconds. With the latter, the method requires you to press and maintain each the again (triangle) and the recents (sq.) key on the similar time for a number of seconds. In case you’ve toggled on PIN safety, you may be mechanically despatched to the lock display screen as a part of the unpinning course of.

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