Android 17 code hints at unlocking your phone with your Google account

Code found in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 points to an "Unlock with Google Account" feature that would let users regain access to a locked phone without a factory reset. Google removed a similar Google-account unlock option back in Android 5.0; the new feature is not yet active and appears to be optional.

• Feature spotted in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5, currently inactive
• Would unlock a phone via linked Google account instead of factory reset
• Google dropped Google-account pattern unlock in Android 5.0
• Listed as optional under the "Device unlock" settings section