Disable NFC Ring unlock while connected to home WiFi/enable when not?
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Perhaps this isn't so much an idea of how to use the NFC Ring but rather an idea for something I'd like to see in the unlock app, but I wasn't completely sure where to post this... this looked like the best spot.
Basically, if a function could be added to the app so that when I'm connected to my home WiFi NFC unlock is disabled, and when I'm not connected to it NFC unlock is enabled, that would be totally cool. I ran into the problem this morning that when my alarm went off, I had to find the ring, figure out which side was the unlock side, and unlock the phone before I could even see the alarm much less shut it off. Though I guess there's always the benefit of having to do that at least it makes you get up in the morning, haha.
I'm trying to figure out a way to accomplish that with Tasker, but I'm kinda inexperienced with it, anyone have any ideas?
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@Talevon Hi there, it should be possible with tasker, but to be honest I haven't played with that very much and I've got a nice stack of broken android phones here that I can't use to try it out.
I tend to sleep with my rings on, always have - the Classic and Alpha rings I'm wearing get taken off for cleaning or food preparation but that's about it really, and they're surviving pretty well.
I figure your fingers get used to them quicker that way too. -
Well, not everyone sleeps with their rings on. :p
But actually, after doing a bunch of reading and fiddling around with things I came up with a solution for my problem, but it doesn't involve the use of the official NFC Ring app. I do kinda like the cool 'scan ring to unlock' overlay though, which is why I was wanting to use the official app, but this method seems to work pretty well too.
What I came up with is a way to use two different methods to unlock your device, and either one works, AND it will be location oriented based on whether you're near or connected to your specified WiFi access point or not.
Your phone will need to be rooted and have Tasker + Secure Settings plugin and Xposed Framework with NFC LockScreenOff Enabler module installed. The free Secure Settings plugin for Tasker can work with normal pin/password unlocks, but in order to work with pattern unlocks you'll have to drop $1.40 for the Pro version via an in-app purchase.
And for the record, I'm using a Nexus 5.
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What this allows you to do is:
- When not near or connected to a familiar WiFi access point, NFC wake/unlock is enabled and pattern/pin/password unlock is enabled.
- When near or connected to a familiar WiFi access point, NFC wake is still enabled (doesn't really matter, all it does at this point is turn on the screen) and pattern/pin/password unlock is disabled, so just a simple power button push or NFC Ring tap will wake the phone.
So, on to the steps:
In Xposed Framework's NFC LockScreenOff Enabler module:
- Under 'Authorized NFC tags' register your NFC Ring as an authorized tag
- Make sure 'Enable NFC when screen is off' is set, unless you want to push the power button every time before tapping your ring to unlock your phone. This setting allows the NFC Ring to wake the phone AND unlock it if an unlock mode is set.
Done there, let's move on to Tasker and Secure Settings.
In Tasker:
- Create a new Profile, and select State.
- Under the 'Net' category, select 'WiFi Connected' or 'WiFi Near', whichever you prefer.
- Under SSID, enter the SSID of the network you want to use for the profile, or you can use the magnifying glass in the corner to find the network as well.
- Touch the back button, and then select New Task.
- You'll be creating two tasks to accomplish this, so lets name this first one 'Disable Lockscreen'.
- Touch the + button to add an Action, and select Plugin > Secure Settings.
- Touch the pencil icon to the right of Configuration and Secure Settings will open.
- From there, you have two options depending on what kind of lockscreen you use.
If you use a password or pin for your lockscreen, go to:
- Dev Admin Actions > Password/Pin
- Then tell it you want to disable it, touch the back button, then touch Yes.
If you use a pattern for your lockscreen, you will need the Secure Settings Pro plugin, and will need to upgrade it via an in app purchase ($1.40). Once you do that, go to:
- Root Actions > Pattern Lock
- Then tell it you want to disable it, touch the back button, then touch Yes.
Once that's set, you can touch the back button again and you'll see your finished disable task.
Now we need to create one more task, and it'll be an exit task for the profile we created.
- Long press on the name of your disable task in your new profile, to the right of the green arrow, and select 'Add Exit Task'.
- Create a new task, and name it 'Enable Lockscreen'.
- Like before, add a new Action and go to Plugin > Secure Settings.
If you use a password or pin for your lockscreen, go to:
- Dev Admin Actions > Password/Pin
- Then tell it you want to enable it, touch the back button, then touch Yes.
If you use a pattern for your lockscreen, (Secure Settings Pro) go to:
- Root Actions > Pattern Lock
- Then tell it you want to enable it, touch the back button, then touch Yes.
Once that's set, you can touch the back button again and you'll see your finished enable exit task.
Now try connecting to the WiFi network you specified in the profile, Tasker should ask for Superuser permission if you haven't already granted it before and proceed to run your task.
You should now be able to:
- While near or connected to your known WiFi network, you should be able to press the power button and wake the phone without needing to unlock it, or tap your NFC Ring to the back of your phone to wake it.
- While not near or connected to your known WiFi network, you should have your pattern/pin/password lock in place and you can unlock the phone normally that way (without needing the ring) or tap your NFC Ring to the back of your phone to wake and unlock it.
It's pretty slick, from the fiddling around I've done with it so far this has been working flawlessly. :)
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Nice post mate, thanks for that. It should help out a few people. As a successful Nexus 5 user, would you care to also make a review post on your experience with the phone/ring combination you have in the 'Which ring will work with my phone' forum? We hear plenty about the problems but not so much about the good experiences, and the methods used.
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Yep, just did that. https://forum.nfcring.com/topic/37/nexus-5#825
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I did the same thing with Llama and NFC unlock. Llama lets you define locations based on wifi or cell towers, so when I'm connected to home wifi, I set the password to nothing, and no password prompt comes up. When I leave home Llama changes my password, and a password prompt comes up, but thanks to NFC unlock, I can bypass it. I had this running for a while, but it's disabled now while I await my ring.
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Hey, I was just trying use Llama to try and do this but I don't see how I can bypass a password lock with NFC ring unlock.
Does anyone have any more specific instructions on how to accomplish this using Llama and NFC Ring Unlock?
I don't like sleeping with my rings on so it would be nice when I'm home to have it unsecured.
Thanks!!
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I try it with the new Version of Tasker like the Tutorial link text
but it doesn´t work, i have no plug in "NFC Ring Unlock" in Tasker :( any hint? -
Hi @Mel, it works for me with the latest version of the unlock app. Have you got the app up and running correctly and updated to the latest version? 1.6.2 I believe.
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Hi, ohh sry i have an older Version ... but i can´t update it, the Google Playstore has no update for me and i can´t uninstall the App
what shoud i do ?! -
@Mel, can you sign up to be a beta tester and see if you get a later version of the app?
http://blog.nfcring.com/dev/be-an-nfc-ring-beta-tester/Once you're in the list you should be able to set up both apps to allow you to download the test versions.
