Google Gemini’s new lock screen features make the AI even more useful — here’s what it can do

Google is making changes to Gemini that will make it much easier to use key features of your phone without having to unlock it first.

Recently spotted by 9to5Google, it seems the ability to send messages or make calls from the lock screen via Gemini has been slowly rolling out to users, after initially appearing in an update in December. Updating to version 15.50+ of the Google app should allow you to find the “Make calls and send messages without unlocking” feature in the Settings app (see the image below). However, users will need to make sure that the Messages and Phone Gemini extensions are turned on within Gemini for the feature to work.

This kind of feature can be very useful when you don’t have a free hand or can’t easily reach the phone to unlock the screen. It is especially useful in cold weather as you don’t need to take off your glove and unlock the screen every time you want to make a call. As someone who has used the feature, I would recommend making sure your contact’s names are distinct enough that it’s easy for Gemini to find the person you intend to call.