All new Android smartphones and tablets come with some form of security when it comes to the first lock screen when you first wake up or turn on a device. The swipe to unlock method is the most popular, not to mention the unlock pattern shown below. While many love these features, not everyone wants their device locked.
From setting a custom pin, pattern, password, or even facial recognition, these can be very secure, but at the same time prohibitive and frustrating for many users. If you’re one of the many who just want to tap the power button and use your phone instantly without any lock screen, read on for a quick guide on how to disable it. Most notably, on the popular new Samsung Galaxy S4 or the larger Note 3.
The instructions below to completely disable the lock screen on your Galaxy S4 or Note 3 are extremely simple and are almost the same for any other Android device. While some manufacturers change the settings or interface to some degree, generally the same general location and instructions can be applied.
How Do You Disable Your Lock Screen?
You will need to find the menu button on your device to get started. For the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, it’s the capacitive touch button to the left of the hardware home button in the middle of the device. Tap the menu and then go to system settings. This can also be done from the “gear”-shaped settings button in the notification pop-up or the same icon found in your app tray.
For those who want a visual explanation, in the image below each main step you need to disable the lock screen on your smartphone is numbered. The Galaxy Note 3 settings look slightly different, but the same “My Device” tab at the top will quickly take you to the lock screen options. From here you just have to select the screen lock and choose the desired method. You will also see a quick list of the details of the instructions below.
Select Menu > System Settings > My Device Tab > Lock Screen > Screen Lock > and the last option “None”
It’s also worth noting that in the middle of the image above is the “Secure lock time” that will let you choose how long the screen will be locked. If you still want a lock screen method for a level of security but don’t want to use it every time you wake up your phone. You can set it to only ask for a PIN (or unlock method) after a certain amount of time. We have 10 minutes here. Therefore, the lockout method is activated only after 10 minutes of inactivity. This unlocks your phone when you use it constantly, but still gives you security when you leave the device as is.
Should You Disable This Feature?
As with most settings and options on a device, it totally depends on the specific needs of the users. Some may want and even need the security of a lock screen, while others may see it as a nuisance. However, with smartphones and tablets becoming more and more a part of our daily lives, some security may be a good idea, not to mention access to Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Banking apps and more.
This is probably a requirement if you’re using a company device, but for overall peace of mind, we recommend at least the PIN method to provide some level of protection and security.
