What is com.android.smartface, and what functions does it carry out on your phone?
Some Android phones come with 100-400 preinstalled apps, some unnecessary, others bloatware, and some filled with malware. Therefore, it is important to keep track of the apps running on your phone and understand their role.
Com.android.smartface (sometimes appearing as com.samsung.android.smartface on Samsung phones) is the package name for SmartFaceService. It is an AI-powered system app that takes regular snaps with the selfie camera to determine if you are looking at the screen.
Below is a detailed look at the application, from its role, benefits, potential concerns, and other facts.
What is the role of com.android.smartface?
The SmartFaceService performs several functions on your Android device. Below is a look at some of them:
1. Face unlock feature
Com.android.smartface is integral to the Face Unlock feature on your Android phone. The application detects, identifies, and recognizes your face, allowing the feature to unlock your phone’s screen.
2. Device security
SmartFaceService is integral to the security of your Android phone. It is a biometric security app that (through the Face Unlock feature) provides an alternative option for unlocking your phone instead of using a password, PIN, or fingerprint unlock.
3. Unlocking apps
Several Android apps support app locking to enhance privacy and security. Many of these apps offer biometric unlocking, including a fingerprint lock or face ID, for example, WhatsApp.
Therefore, com.android.smartface can be a useful tool for unlocking apps on your devices. In addition, you could use the application to sign into accounts of mobile apps that support biometric login with face ID.
4. Authenticating online transactions
Some apps like Google Pay and Samsung Pay use SmartFaceService to authenticate transactions and payments on your device.
You can also use com.android.smartface to sign into (biometric login) supported financial apps or authenticate transactions and payments using such apps.
5. Keeping the screen alive
Another important role of com.android.smartface is keeping the screen alive when using your phone.
It does this by regularly taking snaps with the camera to detect your face. Once detected, the application overrides the screen timeout feature, preventing the screen from dimming, turning off, or locking.
Benefits of using the SmartFaceService on your phone?
Com.android.smartface is a handy application that offers several benefits like:
1. Enhanced security
The SmartFaceService is a vital tool for device security. First, it provides a biometric security feature for your phone’s screen, which can protect your device from unauthorized access, including theft.
Apart from device security, com.android.smartface allows you to control access to specific apps on your phone. This helps to protect personal information and sensitive files like videos, pictures, documents, messages, etc., thus ensuring your data does not fall into the wrong hands.
2. Increased convenience
SmartFaceService offers a more convenient method of unlocking your phone. The Face Unlock feature is faster than entering a PIN or password, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting your credentials.
Face Unlock can also be more convenient than fingerprint unlock, as your phone might fail to sense your fingerprint if your fingers are wet, dirty, oily, dry, or cut.
3. Improved user experience
Com.android.smartface is one of the several apps that improve the user experience of your Android device.
The instant face unlocking allows you to quickly and efficiently access your phone, which can be handy in an emergency or in a hurry to access your phone.
In addition, by keeping your screen alive, the application ensures you enjoy smooth operation when using your device for extended periods, such as reading or watching a video.
4. Versatile online security
SmartFaceService offers a flexible and convenient option for online security. You can use the application to authenticate your online transactions – much faster than you would with passwords.
Com.android.smartface can also serve as a backup authentication method should you forget the passwords to some of your financial apps.
What permissions does com.android.smartface have on your phone?
Com.android.smartface is granted several permissions on your Android phone. These include:
- android.permission.CAMERA – the permission grants the ability to access and use your device’s camera.
- android.permission.GET_TASKS – the permission allows the application to access and retrieve information about tasks actively running on your device.
- android.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS_FULL – the permission allows the app to interact with components within the application or other applications on the device.
- android.permission.OBSERVE_SENSOR_PRIVACY – the permission allows the application to monitor and observe changes in the privacy settings of sensors (in this case, the camera) of the device.
- android.permission.STATUS_BAR – the permission allows the application to control the device’s status bar.
- android.permission.WAKE_LOCK – the permission allows the app to prevent the device from going to sleep, thus keeping the screen on.
Is com.android.smartface dangerous?
Com.android.smartface is a system application that is not malicious. Therefore, you can use it on your Android phone without fear of viruses or malware.
But, while the app is not dangerous, some users have reported several concerns when using the app. These include:
1. Potential privacy issues
Some users have reported issues with SmartFaceService accessing the camera several times daily and seemingly sending data to third party apps. This has raised some concerns that the app might be used for spying.
However, it is normal for com.android.smartface to access the camera several times a day (sometimes even a few hundred times). The app does this when it detects a potential face for scanning through the device’s infrared proximity sensor.
Also, data is likely sent to third-party applications when the app communicates with other applications on the device using the Face Unlock feature.
2. Increased battery drain
Some users have complained about increased drain when the SmartFaceService is running.
The high battery usage can be caused by the app accessing the camera several times. In addition, the app’s wake lock function can keep the screen alive for extended periods, causing a significant battery drain.
3. Increased security risk
One of the most serious concerns with com.android.smartface is that it can increase the security vulnerability of your device.
The security risk is because face unlock biometrics are less secure than passwords, PINs, and even fingerprint unlocking. After all, someone can unlock your phone if they closely resemble you physically or by using your face photo.
The increased security risk can be especially serious if you use the Face ID feature to unlock sensitive apps or data on your device or to authenticate financial transactions.
Can you uninstall com.android.smartface?
Com.android.smartface is a system application; therefore, you cannot uninstall it.
You could remove the app from your phone using a root uninstaller or the Android Debug Bridge in developer mode. However, given how vital the app is and that several other applications use it, it is not a good idea to try this.
However, you can disable the app if you are concerned about it running on your phone. To do this:
- Go to Settings on your device.
- Scroll down to Security or Biometrics and Security (on Samsung devices)
- Tap on Face Unlock/Face Recognition.
- Select Remove Face Data to delete any stored Face ID data and prevent the app from trying to scan your face.
You can also disable the stay awake feature of com.android.smartface by going to Settings>Advanced features>Motion and gestures and turning off the “keep screen on while viewing” feature.
