Android is introducing a new security feature that will force devices to automatically reboot if they haven't been unlocked for a period of time, making it harder for third parties to access the data . The feature, included in the latest Google Play, states that Android phones will automatically reboot "if they remain locked for 3 consecutive days," requiring the user to enter their passcode to unlock them.
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As 9to5Google notes , this update is expected to apply to both Android phones and tablets, but excludes other categories of devices like Android Auto , TV, and WearOS. The reboot function — not to be confused with a factory reset — puts devices into a Before First Unlock (BFU) state , which encrypts data files and disables biometric logins until the device's PIN is entered .
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Apple introduced a similar "Restart on Inactivity" feature on the iPhone with iOS 18.1, which causes to restart after four days of inactivity (when locked.)
We asked Google to clarify when the Google Play Services 25.14 update will be released, as well as which Android devices will support the new automatic restart feature. Typically, these feature updates for Android appear within a week or two.
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It is not clear whether devices will inform users of the reason for the automatic reboot, although Android phones already display a message on the PIN screen when the code entry is required for full unlocking of the device after a reboot.
Source: theverge
