Handing your phone to a kid so they can watch a video, and getting it back to find they’ve opened your email, deleted photos, and somehow ordered something — that’s a universal experience. Android has a built-in fix called app pinning (Samsung calls it “Pin windows”): it locks your phone to a single app until you deliberately unpin it with your unlock code.
It’s been in Android since 5.0, works on basically every phone, and almost nobody turns it on because it’s buried two or three menus deep. This guide shows you how to enable it on every major brand, how to pin and unpin, and the limits you should know before relying on it.
What App Pinning Actually Does
When you pin an app:
- The pinned app takes over the screen — Home, Back, and Recents all stop working.
- Notifications and incoming calls are suppressed — the pinned app won’t be interrupted.
- Unpinning requires your screen lock (if you turn on the PIN requirement).
It’s not parental-control software — it doesn’t filter content or set time limits — but for “watch this video and don’t touch anything else,” it’s exactly the right tool.
Method 1: Pixel / Stock Android
- Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy → App pinning.
- Turn on “Use app pinning”.
- Turn on “Ask for unlock pattern before unpinning” (a.k.a. “Ask for PIN before unpinning”) — without it, anyone can unpin with a simple gesture.
On Android 9–11, the path is Settings → Security → Advanced → Screen Pinning.
Method 2: Samsung (One UI)
- Settings → Security and privacy → Other security settings → Pin windows.
- Turn on the toggle.
- Turn on “Ask for PIN before unpinning”.
On One UI 4/5, the path starts at Settings → Biometrics and security → Other security settings → Pin windows. Can’t find it? Type “pin” in the Settings search bar.
Method 3: Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Others
Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO (MIUI/HyperOS): Settings → Passwords & security → System security → Screen pinning.
OnePlus (OxygenOS): Settings → Security & lock screen → More security settings → App pinning.
Oppo/Realme: Settings → Password & security → System security → App pinning.
Can’t find it? Type “pin” in the Settings search bar at the top — works on literally every phone.
How to Pin an App
With gesture navigation (default on modern phones):
- Open the app.
- Swipe up from the bottom and hold briefly to open Recents.
- Tap the app icon at the top of the app’s preview card.
- Tap Pin.
Android shows a brief explanation of how to unpin — read it once.
With 3-button navigation:
- Open the app.
- Tap the Recents button (square icon).
- Swipe up on the app card to reveal options, then tap Pin.
On Samsung: tap the app icon above the preview card, then “Pin this app”.
How to Unpin an App
With gesture navigation:
- Swipe up from the bottom and hold.
- Enter your PIN, pattern, or fingerprint if the lock requirement is on.
- The app unpins.
With 3-button navigation:
- Press and hold the Back and Recents buttons at the same time.
- Enter your PIN/pattern/fingerprint if the lock requirement is on.
- Back to normal.
Practical Tips
Always turn on the lock requirement — pinning without it is barely better than nothing. Pin before you hand over, not after — open the app to the exact screen first. Test the unpin gesture yourself first (the swipe-up-and-hold timing takes a try or two). Pinning doesn’t stop the power button — a restart escapes the pin, though the phone then asks for the screen lock. It works for more than kids — pin a map app for a stranger, a boarding pass for a gate agent, a payment app for someone entering card details.
What App Pinning Can’t Do
It doesn’t filter content — a pinned browser can still open any website. It doesn’t set time limits. It covers one app at a time. Some system functions still work (power menu, emergency call). For real parental controls — screen-time limits, app approvals, content filters — app pinning is the quick-and-dirty companion to Google Family Link, not a replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the pinned app keep running normally?
Yes — videos play, games work; pinning only blocks leaving the app.
Will I still get calls and messages?
Incoming phone calls still ring, but answering takes you out of the pinned app and requires your unlock. Regular app notifications are suppressed.
Can the person holding the phone take screenshots?
On most phones, yes.
Does pinning work with split-screen or floating windows?
No — single full-screen app only.
I pinned an app and can’t unpin it:
Swipe up and hold firmly for a full second (gesture), or hold Back + Recents together for a full second (3-button). If it asks for your screen lock, that’s the feature working. Last resort: restart the phone.
Troubleshooting
No Pin option in Recents: the feature isn’t enabled yet — the Pin menu item only appears after turning it on in Settings.
Pin option appears but nothing happens: on some Xiaomi phones, open the app, wait for full load, then pin from Recents. If it persists, restart once.
Unpinning doesn’t ask for my PIN: check the separate toggle — Samsung: “Ask for PIN before unpinning”; Pixel: “Ask for unlock pattern before unpinning”. Easy to miss.
The phone unpins itself after a while: check screen timeout — set a longer Screen timeout (Settings → Display) before pinning for long sessions.
Pin windows / App pinning missing from Settings: use the Settings search bar and type “pin”. If still absent, check for a system update.
Bottom line: enable it once (Pixel: Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy → App pinning; Samsung: Settings → Security and privacy → Other security settings → Pin windows) and turn on the PIN requirement. Then pinning is a five-second habit: open Recents, tap the app icon, tap Pin.
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