How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2011 patent describes a method for unlocking a touchscreen device by dragging a specific graphical icon from a starting point to a designated end point.
Original patent title: “Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image”
Apple's 2011 patent describes a method for unlocking a touchscreen device by dragging a specific graphical icon from a starting point to a designated end point. Granted to Apple Inc in 2011 with 19 claims and 141 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2029.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent defines a specific interaction where a user touches an 'unlock image' on a locked screen and drags it to a target area. The device tracks the user's finger contact and moves the image in real-time as the finger moves. The device only transitions to an unlocked state once the image reaches a predefined 'unlock region.' This mechanism ensures that the device does not unlock from accidental touches, as the movement must be continuous and reach a specific destination.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover unlocking via biometrics like a fingerprint or face scan.
- Does not cover pattern-based unlocking where the user draws a shape across a grid of dots.
- Does not cover unlocking via a simple single tap or press of a physical button.
- Does not cover gestures that do not involve moving a specific graphical unlock image.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the requirement for a continuous, guided movement of a specific UI object, which creates a clear, intentional 'handshake' between the user and the device hardware.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Original iPhone lock screen
Early iOS versions (iOS 1 through iOS 9)
Various Android implementations that mimicked the slide-to-unlock motion
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent became a central piece of evidence in high-profile smartphone patent litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more →, most notably Apple v. Samsung. It defined the standard user experience for early touch-based smartphones, moving the industry away from accidental pocket-dialing and toward intentional, gesture-based security.
Filed
June 2, 2009
Granted
October 25, 2011
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple continues to iterate on its lock screen technology, moving toward biometric authentication like FaceID. Most major smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung and Google, have moved away from this specific gesture in favor of more complex, secure, or faster authentication methods.
Market impact
This patent helped establish the 'slide-to-unlock' gesture as a defining feature of the modern smartphone era. It triggered significant legal battles over user interface design, forcing competitors to innovate alternative ways to secure and unlock mobile devices.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent defines a specific interaction where a user touches an 'unlock image' on a locked screen and drags it to a target area. The device tracks the user's finger contact and moves the image in real-time as the finger moves. The device only transitions to an unlocked state once the image reaches a predefined 'unlock region.' This mechanism ensures that the device does not unlock from accidental touches, as the movement must be continuous and reach a specific destination.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the requirement for a continuous, guided movement of a specific UI object, which creates a clear, intentional 'handshake' between the user and the device hardware.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover unlocking via biometrics like a fingerprint or face scan.
- Does not cover pattern-based unlocking where the user draws a shape across a grid of dots.
- Does not cover unlocking via a simple single tap or press of a physical button.
- Does not cover gestures that do not involve moving a specific graphical unlock image.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$312K – $998K
Midpoint $624K · 2.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Anzures, F. A., Forstall, S., Ording, B., Chaudhri, I., Os, M. V., Christie, G., & Lemay, S. O. (2011). How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works (U.S. Patent No. 8,046,721). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8046721/unlocking-a-device-by-performing-gestures-on-an-unlock-image
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works cover?
Apple's 2011 patent describes a method for unlocking a touchscreen device by dragging a specific graphical icon from a starting point to a designated end point.
Who owns patent US 8046721?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2011.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 2, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8046721 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 141 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent became a central piece of evidence in high-profile smartphone patent litigation, most notably Apple v. Samsung. It defined the standard user experience for early touch-based smartphones, moving the industry away from accidental pocket-dialing and toward intentional, gesture-based security.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover unlocking via biometrics like a fingerprint or face scan.
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