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Now you can unlock Chrome OS with a PIN code

Plug in a few numbers instead of your main Google password.

Want to unlock your screen by typing in a few numbers instead of a hefty password? The experimental feature is currently being tested in the latest Chrome OS developer update, according to Google employee François Beaufort. In a Google+ post, he describes how to drop the new functionality into your system:

All you have to do is enable the flag chrome://flags/#quick-unlock-pin, restart Chrome, and go to Chrome Material Design settings page for now to set up your Lock Screen PIN in the new "Screen Lock" section. When it's done, lock your screen with 🔍 + L and enjoy the new unlock experience!

Sure, it's far easier to plug in a PIN instead of whatever you've set as your Chrome OS password, and possibly more secure than using a nearby Android phone for Smart Lock. But you're also not entering the code that will get you into your Google suite — the "keys to the kingdom" as one commenter on Beaufort's post put it. Nifty, huh? Those wanting to dig deeper should check out the source code here.