While Cortana is no longer exclusive to Windows devices as of today, it’s still safe to say that the digital assistant has always been more tightly integrated into Microsoft’s own platforms. On Windows 10 Mobile, you can access Cortana right from your lock screen by pressing and holding the search button, which is quite handy to create a reminder or do a quick search. However, it seems Android users will soon be able to do the same according to a new report from MSPoweruser.
Indeed, Android users currently testing the latest beta version of Cortana can now choose to add a Cortana icon on the bottom of their lock screen. Once it’s enabled, the digital assistant can be accessed with a simple swipe on the new button, which then opens the familiar Cortana panel without needing to unlock the phone. Even better, the new feature reportedly works with custom lock screens as well such as Microsoft’s own Next Lock Screen.
Just like on Windows 10 Mobile though, you may want to disable this feature to prevent anyone who gets access to your phone to see your personal information stored on Cortana. For now, you can try this new capability by signing up for the Cortana testing program on Google Play, but we’ll let you know if Microsoft decides to roll the feature to all Android users in the coming weeks.
