Hot topics

How to unlock the Galaxy S4 with your face

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 1
© nextpit

Ever since the inception of the smartphone I’ve dreamed of unlocking it with my face. It’s just cool, you know? It feels so “cyberpunk”. I’m imagining Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell (look it up). Whether you think of it as a gimmick, or a practical means of unlocking your phone, is up to you. Either way, here is how to setup face unlock on your Galaxy S4

IMG 8064
Find out how to unlock the Galaxy S4 just by using your face! / © NextPit

Please note: this method of unlocking your device is NOT recommended if you wish to keep your phone as secure as possible. The technology is not perfect, somebody who looks similar to you, or even a photograph of your own face, can be used to trick the handset into unlocking. You’ve been warned.

How to unlock the Galaxy S4 with your face

First of all you will need to enter your settings. From any home screen, tap the “options” button (the bottom left button on your handset) and hit “settings”. Tap the “device” tab at the top of the page and go to “lock screen” under the “personalization” subheading. 

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 1
Go to your settings page then the device menu. / © ANDROIDPIT

In the lock screen menu, tap screen lock. You will have to confirm your current lock screen code if you have one. In the next menu, select “face unlock”.

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 2
Tap screen lock, then select face unlock. / © ANDROIDPIT

You will be warned about using screen unlock while driving (do NOT do that!). Hit next. Read the “about face unlock” page then tap “set it up”.

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 3
Samsung's face unlock mode comes with a few important warnings. / © ANDROIDPIT

Find a suitable place to take a selfie. Hold the camera up to your face for a few seconds and it will create what is essentially a “signature”; the S4 will determine the user trying to unlock the phone based on this initial scan.

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 7
The Galaxy S4 camera will scan your face so that it knows who it should unlock for. / © ANDROIDPIT

Once the S4 has recorded your face, you will have to set up a “backup” unlock method, in case your face is not recognized, for whatever reason.

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 5
You will have to create another way to unlock your phone, should the face unlock encounter problems. / © ANDROIDPIT
  • Samsung Galaxy S4 “Hidden” features

After this is set up, you're all done! Lock your phone, and then to unlock it, just press one of the buttons (as you would do to unlock the phone like normal) then hold it up to your face.

andrdoidpit galaxy s4 face unlock 6
Once face unlock is set up, it works surprisingly fast and I struggled to get a good screenshot of it as it processed my face.  / © ANDROIDPIT

That's how you do it folks. Hit us up in the comments below if you have any questions.

 The best smartphones under $400

  Editorial tip Price tip 3rd place 4th place 5th place
Product
Image Google Pixel 6a Product Image Apple iPhone SE (2022) Product Image Samsung Galaxy A53 Product Image OnePlus Nord N20 Product Image Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) Product Image
Review
Review: Google Pixel 6a
Review: Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Review: Samsung Galaxy A53
Not yet tested
Not yet tested
Price (MSRP)
  • $449.00
  • $429.00
  • $449.99
  • $299.00
  • $399.00
Offer*
Go to comment (3)
Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

View all articles
Liked this article? Share now!
Recommended articles
Latest articles
Push notification Next article
3 comments
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

  • Anibal Camunas 9
    Anibal Camunas Oct 1, 2014 Link to comment

    great


  • 12
    Russell Wilson Oct 1, 2014 Link to comment

    I've tried the photo thing with my own and it didn't work. That was without the blink detection


    • Kris Carlon 35
      Kris Carlon Oct 1, 2014 Link to comment

      ''A face made for face unlocking'' huh?

Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing