Google removing NFC unlock feature
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German tech site golem.de states that google has removed the NFC unlock feature from Android:
https://www.golem.de/news/android-google-schafft-entsperrung-per-nfc-chip-ab-1709-130318.htmlThe article mentions this as source: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/65425413
Where a google employee mentions, that the feature was removed: "SmartLock NFC feature has been deprecated for new users. If you are not existing NFC users, the option will be hidden.". Sadly no statemany why and why it was removed so quietly.
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@scarabaea
I took delivery of my new Oreo phone yesterday and confirm that trusted devices is Bluetooth only now.
Obviously quite upsetting for NFC ring fans. -
Came here to comment about this issue. Apparently, even if you still have the NFC Smart Lock feature enabled and working so far, you will lose it when you factory reset or otherwise log out of your Google account on your Android device. Here is a reddit thread with a good writeup on the subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/72tj6u/psa_google_have_quietly_removed_nfc_smart_unlock/
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Now there's an official statement from Google. They're deprecating NFC unlock because of "low usage" and have already removed all references to it from their online manuals.
This and the lack of communication might very well signal the end of the NFC ring. Not even the much-vaunted payment-enabled model will make up for the loss of this feature.
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This is just Bulls!@# 😢
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This needs more visibility. If we can get enough users to star this issue, maybe Google will review it and reconsider bringing back NFC to Smart Unlock.
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Heads up, with this workaround we might re-enable NFC Smart Lock: http://www.thesayansblog.net/2017/11/re-enable-nfc-smart-lock.html
AFAIK you need to downgrade Play Services, enable NFC Smart Unlock and then update again. I haven't tried it myself yet, though.
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@nephiel
Thanks for the update, won't work with any Oreo phone, but will work with any previous to that. -
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This is extremely disappointing to hear, I have been using NFC Rings since the first time it was on Kickstarter. I do not agree with using biometric authentication so now I am stuck with the old password/PIN. I do not understand what sort of problem it was causing that would make them remove it; if most people don't use, it how is turning it off going to solve anything?
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I tried http://www.thesayansblog.net/2017/11/re-enable-nfc-smart-lock.html but it didn't work for me.
I have found another way to re-enable the NFC Smart Lock feature on Android, though it still requires root and manually editing a preferences file.
Details on pastebin: https://pastebin.com/2RSZzERg
