Tech Desk 
Apr 19, 2025
Some users testing Android 16 Beta 4 are facing an unexpected issue with the lock screen shortcuts. Normally, these shortcuts require a long-press to activate, but a bug in the latest beta version has removed this feature for some devices.
Released with Android 14, the long-press feature for shortcuts like the camera and flashlight was meant to prevent accidental touches. If users tapped once, they would see a small shake animation and a reminder saying “Touch & hold shortcut.”
This helped avoid issues like the flashlight turning on in your pocket, which could drain the battery or cause the phone to heat up.
However, in Android 16 Beta 4, a bug appears to have removed the long-press requirement on certain devices. Users can activate shortcuts with just a single tap.
This change is confusing for users who have developed muscle memory for the long-press feature. While the new behaviour might seem faster, it brings back the risk of accidental activation.
It’s important to note that this issue is not affecting all users. Out of six test devices, only two showed the single-tap behaviour. This suggests that it’s likely a bug rather than a planned feature.
Most phones on Android 16 Beta 4 are still working as expected with the long-press method intact.
Google is expected to fix this issue before the final Android 16 stable release. Until then, users should be cautious when using lock screen shortcuts, especially if they notice this change on their device.
