Security and Privacy

security and privacy

Secure your tablet with a PIN and your own fingerprint

A PIN or fingerprint can secure your Android tablet to keep all your personal data safe. A PIN or fingerprint is like a key that unlocks your tablet. When your tablet is locked, no one else can use it.

If you already have a PIN set up on your tablet, you can follow along with this guide and learn how to change your PIN.

What you will need

Before you begin the course, check that your tablet is fully charged and showing the Home screen. Your operating system software should also be fully up to date.

To check your system software is up to date tap Settings, then Software update. Depending on your device, you can then tap Download updates manually or Download and install to start the update. Your tablet will restart when the update is complete.

We recommend you only use your home Wi-Fi to do these updates to save your data and to protect your privacy.

Remember, there are lots of different brands of Android tablet, and they all do things slightly differently. Some of the screens on your tablet might look a little different to the ones on this guide, but you should still be able to follow along.

First steps

Your tablet’s security options are controlled from the Settings app. To open it:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen to show the Apps screen. You will see a grid of icons.
2. Find the icon that looks like a cog wheel. This is the Settings icon. Tap it.
3. Once the Settings app is open, look for Lock screen in the list of options on the left. Tap on it.

If you already have a PIN on your tablet, the next few steps are similar to those for changing it, so it’s a good idea to follow along.

Choosing a screen lock type

There are a few different ways to protect your tablet.

1. You’ll see Screen lock type at the top of the screen, and Swipe written below it.
2. This setting doesn’t protect your tablet. Tap on it to choose a safer option.
3. Tap PIN from the list.
4. You need to enter at least four numbers for a PIN, but six numbers will make the PIN harder to guess and more secure.
5. Use the number pad to enter your new six-number PIN.
6. It can be inconvenient to tap OK each time you enter your PIN, so tap Confirm PIN without tapping OK to avoid this.
7. Your tablet wants to be sure you remember your PIN, so enter the PIN again and tap Done. Your tablet and personal information are now protected by your new PIN.

Testing your new PIN

Now, let’s test your new PIN to make sure it works.

1. Press the Power button on your tablet so the screen goes dark. Don’t hold the button for too long, or your tablet may switch off completely.
2. Press the power button once to wake up your tablet. The Lock screen will appear and ask you to enter your PIN.
3. Carefully enter each number of your PIN. If you enter the PIN incorrectly, the tablet will ask you to try again.
4. If you enter the wrong PIN too many times in a row, everything on your tablet might be erased! Keeping a backup of your tablet can restore all your content and settings if this happens, and you can learn about this in another guide.
5. After you enter your PIN correctly, the tablet will unlock and show the last screen you had open and you can use your tablet.

Setting up fingerprint security

Your fingerprint can be a faster and more convenient way to unlock your tablet than a PIN. However, you still need a PIN to keep your information secure. Your PIN can always unlock your tablet, even if fingerprint security is set up.

1. To set up fingerprint security, find and open the Settings app like you did earlier in this guide.
2. From the Settings menu, find the Lock screen and security option and tap it. Then look for the Fingerprint scanner option and tap it.
3. For your security, your tablet will ask you to put in your PIN. Enter your PIN now, to confirm that it’s you scanning your fingerprint, and not someone else.
4. Setting up your fingerprint will take a couple of minutes, because you will need to scan your finger in a range of different positions. Get ready to do this now.

1. Locate your tablet’s fingerprint scanner. Depending on your model, the scanner will be near the camera on the back of the tablet, or it might even be built-in to the Home button. Your tablet should display a picture or an animation showing you where the scanner is.
2. Your tablet will also show an animation that tells you how to position and move your finger on the scanner to scan it properly. Follow the instructions until the tablet says your fingerprint is registered.
3. Once registration is complete, your tablet will ask if you want to register another finger. For now, tap Done to continue.
4. Because this is the first fingerprint you’ve registered, your tablet will ask if you want to turn on Fingerprint unlock. This is required so you can unlock the tablet with your fingerprint. Tap Turn on.
5. The tablet is now set up with fingerprint security.

Testing your fingerprint

Now let’s test unlocking your tablet using your fingerprint.

1. Press the power button on the side of your tablet until the screen goes dark. Don’t press and hold for too long, or your tablet might switch off completely.
2. Press the power button again. The display will show the Lock screen.
3. You can swipe to go to a screen that asks for your PIN or hold your finger against the sensor to unlock your tablet. The finger needs to be the same one you registered with the fingerprint scanner.
4. When your tablet unlocks and shows the last screen you were using, you can take your finger off the scanner.

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Congratulations!

Well done. You should now know how to protect the personal data and information on your tablet using a PIN, and your fingerprint!

Next up, we'll learn the Android tablet: Accessibility activity.