In the latest Android 15 Beta 3, a bug has been reported that renders the lockscreen ineffective for managing notifications. This issue causes the device to demand authentication every time a user interacts with the lockscreen, even when performing actions that typically do not require unlocking, such as tapping on notifications or expanding alerts.
The Beta 3.1 patch, released on July 3, aimed to address this issue by preventing the lock screen from intercepting touch input and prompting the user to unlock the device unnecessarily. However, some users are still experiencing the problem. This bug significantly impacts lockscreen camera usage, as users are constantly required to unlock the device.
Initially reported on June 23, the bug causes the device to bring up the PIN code screen whenever the device is locked and any tap or swipe is made on the lockscreen. Interestingly, play/pause functions on the media player seem to be exempted from this issue. Users can swipe back to return to their previous action, but unlocking is still required at every stage.
This bug makes the lockscreen essentially useless for managing notifications, as there are times when users do not want to unlock their phones. Restarting the device has been found to temporarily fix the issue, but it tends to reoccur. The bug has been happening about every other day since the installation of Beta 3 on Tuesday. It sometimes occurs several times a day.
The bug has been experienced by some users on a Pixel 8, but reports from other users have since come in. Playing around with authentication settings, such as enabling/disabling Face Unlock, does not resolve this issue.
