Google is slowly but surely making Gemini more useful to Android phone users who have access to it, and this now includes the capability to make calls to people from the lock screen without unlocking the device. A quick “Ok Google, call Dad,” for example, would wake the display and then Gemini would respond and start the call.
This sort of feature, made by possible the Utilities extension, gives users a way to place phone calls in a quick and easy way. Placing a phone call on your device is not terribly difficult to begin with. However, being able to ask Gemini to place the call for you without unlocking the phone is most certainly a simpler and faster process. This feature will be even easier for people with Google’s new Pixel Buds Pro 2. Especially since if you’re using those, then your phone is probably in your pocket and locked.
So you can see how being able to place calls without unlocking the device would be useful in such a scenario.
Making calls from the lock screen with Gemini is not widely available yet
While the feature has started to reach some users, it doesn’t appear to be rolling out widely to everyone with Gemini access. According to 9To5Google, this feature appears to have been enabled within the latest Google app beta, which is version 15.48.
It’s worth noting, too, that this looks to be a server-side update on Google’s part. So you shouldn’t need to update the app if you’re using the beta. You will, however, need to have the “Phone and Messages” extension enabled. You can find this in the Gemini app. Then you have to turn on calls and messages in Gemini for this to work. Even if you are on the right Google app beta version.
This feature will work with Google Assistant
Google is still rolling out this feature for Gemini proper. You can still use it though even if you aren’t using the Google app beta version. The difference is that you’ll need to unlock the phone first. As it’s defaulting back to Google Assistant to place the call. If you try to make a call from the lock screen using Gemini, you’ll be asked to unlock your phone first. Afterward, the call will immediately start if you already told Google who to call. If not, you’ll be asked who you want to call before Google moves forward.
With this same feature, Gemini will also be able to send texts from the lock screen. While we don’t see this being the preferred method for sending longer texts, it could be a nice way to send out short messages quickly. Especially if time is of the essence.