One of the most underappreciated tools within Google’s Android operating system is undoubtedly its little-known app pinning function. First introduced inAndroid 5.0 Lollipopall the way back in 2014, app pinning allows you to isolate a single app on screen, removing the ability to swipe it away.
Effectively, this serves as an added layer of security and control over your Android device. Disabling the ability to return to the home screen, to enter themultitaskingscreen, or to open another app can be useful in specific contexts. For example, if a stranger asks to borrow your phone to make a call, or if you need to give your phone to a cranky toddler, app pinning provides some much-needed peace of mind.
In newer versions ofAndroid, it’s also possible to enable the option to require a PIN or password upon exiting a pinned app. For the most part, I’d recommend toggling this on, as it’s far more secure on the whole. Interestingly, Google (and many third-party Android OEMs) ship devices with app pinning turned off by default. I think this is a mistake, as it leads to the feature’s continued underutilization.
Here’s how to enable app pinning on your own Android phone or tablet, as well as instructions on how to enter and exit app pinning mode once enabled.
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How do I set up app pinning on Android?
The option is buried within the Settings app
While the precise interface and verbiage might defer slightly from one Android device to another, the general process remains the same. To get app pinning up and running on your handset or slate, follow these steps:
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How do I pin and unpin an app to my screen?
Pinning is invoked via recent apps / overview screen
Once you’ve gone ahead and enabled app pinning from within Settings, it’s time to get cracking. To pin a specific app to your screen, follow these steps:
The steps required to unpin an app depend on whether your Android device is configured with gesture navigation or 3-button navigation. With the former, unpinning is accomplished by swiping up and holding onto the home bar for several seconds. With the latter, the process requires you to press and hold both the back (triangle) and the recents (square) key at the same time for several seconds. If you’ve toggled on PIN protection, you’ll be automatically sent to the lock screen as part of the unpinning process.
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