Auto Lock

[MrMatthew]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S7, Android Version 8.0.0. Everything, including apps, are up to date. Is there any way to get the phone, after ending a call, to not automatically go to the lock screen?

Other than being irritating to unlock my phone after every call, I have a specific reason for asking. I use my phone to play my music in Google Play Music while driving via aux. After a call, my phone auto locks instead of returning to the opened Google Play Music app in order to continue using the buttons, (pause, ffd, rwd, etc). Unlocking the phone everytime can be distracting and dangerous.

I have noticed that if the phone call is short, it doesn't return (sometimes) to the lock screen. Not sure if it's outgoing or incoming. There has to be a way to disable or override this function without using another app, removing lock feature or jailbreaking the phone.

 

[puppykickr]

I am going to take a WAG and say that you need to check the settings in your Phone app.

There should be some adjustment pertaining to this issue in there.

If not there, perhaps there is an adjustment available in the settings for the screen lock itself.

 

[puppykickr]

Your phone treats the duration of call as a period of inactivity. As such, on a long call (longer than the period set for inactivity in settings) the phone goes into lock mode without disrupting the call in progress.
Try going into settings and extending the period that the phone stays on without going into lock. Unfortunately, if you are in the habit of making fairly long calls, this might prove to be impractical.

Good thinking on that one, as well.

Also, on most phones the proximity sensor will turn off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear.

Having the screen shut off like this also can activate the locking system.

Some apps, like Greenify, also will activate and lock the screen whenever the screen turns off.

 

[MrMatthew]

I am going to take a WAG and say that you need to check the settings in your Phone app.

There should be some adjustment pertaining to this issue in there.

If not there, perhaps there is an adjustment available in the settings for the screen lock itself.

I checked all setttings in several places and don't see anything pertaining to the problem that would fix it. Tried changing several settings and still no fix.

 

[MrMatthew]

Your phone treats the duration of call as a period of inactivity. As such, on a long call (longer than the period set for inactivity in settings) the phone goes into lock mode without disrupting the call in progress.
Try going into settings and extending the period that the phone stays on without going into lock. Unfortunately, if you are in the habit of making fairly long calls, this might prove to be impractical.

Since the Galaxy S7 has no setting that keeps the screen on until you manually turn it off, I've used an app called, No Screen Off. I disabled that app and set the display to the highest, 10 minutes, and phone still goes into lock mode after every call.

 

[mikedt]

The S7 does have Smart Lock, where the phone will stay unlocked in certain conditions. On-body detection, good luck! Trusted locations, which isn't going to work when driving around in a car. Trusted devices, like a connected Bluetooth device, e.g. a headset or smart-watch.

 

[MrMatthew]

Good thinking on that one, as well.

Also, on most phones the proximity sensor will turn off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear.

Having the screen shut off like this also can activate the locking system.

Some apps, like Greenify, also will activate and lock the screen whenever the screen turns off.

95% of the time, I use the speaker. Especially, when driving. The screen never goes off during the calls, but as soon as the call ends, it pauses for a bit and then goes to lock screen. No matter what button you push during that brief pause, nothing happens.

 

[MrMatthew]

The S7 does have Smart Lock, where the phone will stay unlocked in certain conditions. On-body detection, good luck! Trusted locations, which isn't going to work when driving around in a car. Trusted devices, like a connected Bluetooth device, e.g. a headset or smart-watch.

Since I use the app, No Screen Off, always have it activated, and manually turn off my screen, why does it go to lock screen after calls? It shouldn't with that app.

 

[mikedt]

95% of the time, I use the speaker. Especially, when driving. The screen never goes off during the calls, but as soon as the call ends, it pauses for a bit and then goes to lock screen. No matter what button you push during that brief pause, nothing happens.

If your phone was connected to the car stereo by Bluetooth rather than aux, then that could be the trusted device for Smart Unlock, and the phone will stay unlocked while it's connected.

 

[mikedt]

Since I use the app, No Screen Off, always have it activated, and manually turn off my screen, why does it go to lock screen after calls? It shouldn't with that app.

Going back to post #2 in this thread, I'm suspecting it's a time-out issue. While it's in a call, that's seen as inactivity.

 

[MrMatthew]

If your phone was connected to the car stereo by Bluetooth rather than aux, then that could be the trusted device for Smart Unlock, and the phone will stay unlocked while it's connected.

Believe it or not, I've never checked to see if the stereo has bluetooth, lol. I bought the stereo from and had installed by Best Buy more than 15 years ago. The factory stereo stopped working. It's only been the last year and a half that I started using Google Play Music and just starter using an aux cord. I will check it tomorrow.

 

[MrMatthew]

Going back to post #2 in this thread, I'm suspecting it's a time-out issue. While it's in a call, that's seen as inactivity.

Wouldn't my app, No Screen Off, being constantly activated prevent the time-out?

 

[MrMatthew]

Has anyone ever experienced this situation?

 

[MrMatthew]

@puppykickr
@Snakeyeskm
@mikedt

Thank you all for your help! If you have more ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

 

[mikedt]

Believe it or not, I've never checked to see if the stereo has bluetooth, lol. I bought the stereo from and had installed by Best Buy more than 15 years ago. The factory stereo stopped working. It's only been the last year and a half that I started using Google Play Music and just starter using an aux cord. I will check it tomorrow.

If it was 15 years ago, then it almost certainly hasn't got Bluetooth. Bluetooth for stereo music, has only really happened in the last 10 years. Maybe time for a new stereo?

 

[MrMatthew]

If it was 15 years ago, then it almost certainly hasn't got Bluetooth. Bluetooth for stereo music, has only really happened in the last 10 years.

@mikedt I was thinking the same. I wonder if I disabled my password if it would still go o lock screen. Problem is, I want a password for entry.

 

[mikedt]

Wouldn't my app, No Screen Off, being constantly activated prevent the time-out?

Not necessarily, phone calls take priority and usually override or suspend all other processes.

 

[puppykickr]

And strange issues like this are what keeps me from even looking at a Samsung device.

That being said, could there be something in your owner's manual that could lead to a solution?

Maybe in a better manual than what came with the phone.

https://www.manualslib.com/

is where I look for downloadable pdfs of devices.

Usually there is a table of contents, and the first place I would look is in the calls section, then the screen lock section.

If all that fails, then you could use an app locker- so that you could turn the lock on the phone off, but still have individual apps with sensitive content locked.

Kind of a last ditch effort.

 

[puppykickr]

I'm not sure this is a problem with only Samsung phones.
There is a logical reason for this behavior.
During a call, it is very easy to inadvertently trigger other apps/actions that would then interfere with the call. In a sense, locking the balance of the phone system protects the all important phone call from being disrupted.
See mikedt"s post earlier in this thread.

The idea that this is such a problem that the answer is so difficult to figure out...

THAT is a Samsung problem.

I have fiddled with a few Samsung devices, and within mnutes was ready to smash them into a wall.

Generally because they are not very mentally ergonomic when it cones to problem solving compaired with other devices.

Then there are the issues with the stuff that only Samsung has, and together you have the perfect recipe to keep me walking.

Even the back and recent apps buttons on the navigation bar have to be reverse of everyone else- why- well, Samsung, that's why!
(Yes, I know that this can be changed within the settings. I also know that on the older devices you could not change this. The idea that now you can tells me that I was not the only person annoyed by this.)

This does't mean that I don't want to help, but it is a problem that I can't remember hearing about before on other devices, unless the timer on the screen lock was set to a time less than the phone call amounted to.

That is why I suggested looking into the settings of the phone app, ti see if there was a setting for an 'after call' function.

 

[Hadron]

Yeah, phone timing-out during a call and hence activating the lockscreen is standard behaviour. The "showing an unresponsive screen before locking" sounds a bit of a quirk, but I rarely do hands-free calls on my phone so can't easily compare.

My thought was also to try Tasker or similar. I long ago wrote a simple Tasker task to set the screen timeout to something absurd when certain apps were running, effectively disabling the time-out, then reset it to my norm when the app exited, and I expect that you could do something like that to extend the timeout when the incallui ("in call user interface") app is active.

What's irritating is that if I've read the posts correctly it doesn't seem to be reverting to the previous app when the call ends, as that's what I expect s phone to do. You shouldn't have to press buttons to get back into the music app (whether it restarts playing may be a setting of the app - though if it's a Google app they probably make the choice for you and don't provide a setting, because Google are like that).

 

[puppykickr]

Yeah, phone timing-out during a call and hence activating the lockscreen is standard behaviour. The "showing an unresponsive screen before locking" sounds a bit of a quirk, but I rarely do hands-free calls on my phone so can't easily compare.

My thought was also to try Tasker or similar. I long ago wrote a simple Tasker task to set the screen timeout to something absurd when certain apps were running, effectively disabling the time-out, then reset it to my norm when the app exited, and I expect that you could do something like that to extend the timeout when the incallui ("in call user interface") app is active.

What's irritating is that if I've read the posts correctly it doesn't seem to be reverting to the previous app when the call ends, as that's what I expect s phone to do.

Yeah, my ol'lady has a phone identical to mine.
She is more Google dependant than I am, so she won't use some of the replacement apps that I do.

My file manager and gallery both have a locking feature for "hidden" items, abd there is no sensitive information on my device.

So I only use the long press to gain access to the main device functions.

My power button is flaky, not really working well at all, so I use Wave Up as a way to activate the screen, and then a long press to open the device.

This keeps the unit from butt dialing or repeatedly turning on for whatever reason.

Anyway, she and I use Greenify, which activates a few moments after the screen turns off.

She uses a timed screen lock, and it was interfering with Greenify functioning properly.

Took a few tries to find a time that didn't screw it up.

 

[MrMatthew]

I want to thank everyone for their advice and help. Unfortunately, I've tried them all, and still have the same problem.

I believe my question wasn't fully explained or easily misunderstood. And since this thread is a bit old, (meaning it wouldn't get more replies, even though I was to keep replying and explaining), I'm thinking about starting a new query with more in depth explanation.

I really need to find a solution since in my state it's against the law to be caught using your phone unless it's by voice command only! But yet, It's not against the law to manually operate your automobile stereo! Go figure. I would upgrade to a new phone for the solution, even if it wasn't a Samsung, but I don't have the money to buy a new phone nor install a new stereo. And I certainly don't have the money to purchase a newer automobile with all the bells and whistles, LOL!

Again, I thank all of you for your suggestions, possible remedies, and mostly your time.

 

[puppykickr]

Have you checked all the settings in your music app?

Usually there is an adjustment for what it is to do after a call.

Music Resume or something to that effect.

 

[MrMatthew]

Here's what I used to do when I wanted to play music on a locked phone. I used it while walking my dog (she's a 100 pound Rottweiler and I needed both hands). Haven't done this for a while.
Put the music app on your lock screen.
After a phone call and the phone locks, use "hey Google" and ask it play music.
I'm not sure if it will work on your phone, but worth a try.
I use Pandora and that worked fine.

Here's what I used to do when I wanted to play music on a locked phone. I used it while walking my dog (she's a 100 pound Rottweiler and I needed both hands). Haven't done this for a while.
Put the music app on your lock screen.
After a phone call and the phone locks, use "hey Google" and ask it play music.
I'm not sure if it will work on your phone, but worth a try.
I use Pandora and that worked fine.

Here's what I used to do when I wanted to play music on a locked phone. I used it while walking my dog (she's a 100 pound Rottweiler and I needed both hands). Haven't done this for a while.
Put the music app on your lock screen.
After a phone call and the phone locks, use "hey Google" and ask it play music.
I'm not sure if it will work on your phone, but worth a try.
I use Pandora and that worked fine.

Thank you for your advice Snakeyeskm. I'm certainly going to give that a try. I use Google Play Music, but maybe using Pandora would be better. I'll get back to you and let you know how it works out.

 

[MrMatthew]

Have you checked all the settings in your music app?

Usually there is an adjustment for what it is to do after a call.

Music Resume or something to that effect.

View attachment 147321

I can't seem to find these.settings on my Galaxy 7s. Any help as to how I can find these. Thanks puppykickr.

BTW, you don't really kick puppys, do you, LOL.