Microsoft's Cortana started invading Android phones back in 2015, and it was only a matter of time before it made it to the lock screen — of beta users for now.
At any rate, that means you'll soon be able to get in touch with the virtual assistant with just one swipe, making things a whole deal easier.
Cortana To Take Over Android Lock Screens
According to MSPoweruser, Cortana is compatible with your Android phone's current lock screen, and to be clear on that, you can continue using custom ones even if you turn on the new feature.
Speaking of turning it on, you have to update the app and open it first before it'll ask whether or not you want to enable "Cortana on lock screen."
Once that's done, just tap on the "Add Cortana to my lock screen" option to get the virtual assistant to, well, show up on your lock screen.
When everything's nice and ready, the Cortana icon should be sitting near the bottom of the screen, and to activate it, you just have to either swipe left or right.
Cortana's New Feature Still For Beta Users
As mentioned earlier, having Cortana on the lock screen is still under beta testing, and needless to say, anyone outside of the program will have to wait for the option to roll out officially.
On the bright side of things, that indicates it should launch for users everywhere in a couple of weeks' time.
However, if you're feeling a little impatient and itching to take it out for a spin, you can go ahead and sign up as a beta tester. A word to the wise, though, it's safe to expect to run into a bug or two that still need to be ironed out.
Microsoft Stepping Up AI Efforts
In other Microsoft-related news, the Redmond company recently acquired the deep learning startup Maluuba, and to put it simply, it could be considered as a sign that some huge Cortana improvements are coming in the foreseeable future.
It's also worth mentioning that the virtual assistant got beefed up in the Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15007, gaining abilities that include displaying quick links and allowing developers to send in-line toast notifications with a progress indicator.
The Bottom Line
To boil things down, Android users here and there are in for a treat when the update is released, as they'll get a convenient way to access Cortana and its services with just a swipe on the lock screen.
It should also be pointed out that this seems to be a way for Microsoft to get more users onboard with Cortana, and it's really a pretty big push to stand out in the competition against the likes of Google Assistant and Siri.
Cortana is available for download via the Google Play Store.
With everything said and done, what do you think of Cortana getting a nice, sweet spot on your Android phone's lock screen? Feel free to hit us up in the comments section below and let us know.
