Key Points:
- A bug in Android 15 Beta 3 disrupts notification management on the lock screen.
- Every tap or swipe triggers an authentication request, hindering quick access.
- Restarting temporarily fixes the issue, but it frequently reappears.
Early adopters of Android 15 Beta 3 are encountering a significant annoyance: a bug that renders the lock screen practically unusable for managing notifications. This issue forces users to constantly authenticate their devices, hindering the usual ease of accessing and interacting with notifications on the lock screen.
Normally, the lock screen allows for basic interaction with notifications without requiring a full phone unlock. Users can view details, swipe away alerts, or even perform limited actions like deleting emails in Gmail. However, with this bug, any tap or swipe on the lock screen, except for media player controls like play/pause, triggers the PIN code screen.
This constant demand for authentication disrupts the user experience. While swiping back from the edges allows a return to the previous notification interaction, the need to unlock at every stage becomes extremely frustrating.
The temporary solution seems to be restarting the device. Unfortunately, this fix is short-lived, with the bug resurfacing every other day or even several times a day for some users. Changing authentication settings, such as enabling or disabling Face Unlock, has proven ineffective.
While reports suggest this issue might not be widespread, it’s certainly causing problems for some users, particularly those on Pixel 8 devices running Beta 3. As more users adopt the Beta version, it’s likely more reports will emerge. Hopefully, a fix will be implemented in a future update to restore the expected functionality of the lock screen and streamline notification management for Android 15 users.
