Kerry Wan/ZDNET
A new security feature from Google means that Android devices might soon start rebooting automatically — and that’s not a bad thing. In a recent Google Play Services update, Google details how your Android phone will soon reboot if you haven’t used it for three consecutive days.
How reboots help
This is important for two reasons. The first is because, to open a phone after a reboot, you must enter a PIN — no biometrics or other method of unlocking. PIN-only access means the phone, and the data on it, is harder to access for anyone with bad intentions. If you’re one of the people using a phone without any sort of unlock protection, this is a significant layer of security.
Also: Why rebooting your phone daily is your best defense against zero-click attacks
The second reason is a little more technical, but just as important. Mobile phones have two lock states: Before first lock (BFU) and after first lock (AFU). In BFU, information and files on a phone are securely encrypted and completely inaccessible, even with complex extraction programs.
This also means that authorities who have seized a phone as evidence, such as local law enforcement or the FBI, will have a shorter window of time to access the device before it becomes much more difficult.
Also: Biometrics vs. passcodes: What lawyers recommend if you’re worried about warrantless phone searches
A BFU phone remains connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, meaning that if you lose your phone and it reboots, you’ll still be able to use location-finding services.
Apple introduced a similar feature for iPhones last year.
Rolling out
This new feature is part of the April 2025 Google System release notes. It would seemingly apply to tablets, too, but will not apply to wearables like the Pixel Watch, televisions, or Android Auto devices.
Also: How to factory reset your Android phone without unlocking it first
Google hasn’t said if you’ll be able to toggle this feature or change the time limit for rebooting.
Since this feature is part of Google Play Services, you’ll see it without your phone going through a full system update.
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