Android is launching a new security feature that will force devices to reboot themselves if you haven’t unlocked them for a while, making it harder for other people to access the data inside. The feature included in the latest Google Play services update says that Android phones will automatically restart “if locked for 3 consecutive days,” requiring users to enter their passcode the next time they want to open the device.
As 9to5Google notes, this update should apply to both Android phones and tablets, but will exclude other device categories like Auto, TV, and WearOS. The reboot function — not to be confused with a device reset that returns it to factory settings — puts phones and tablets into a Before First Unlock (BFU) state that encrypts data files and disables biometric login support until the device PIN has been entered.
We’ve asked Google to clarify when the Google Play services 25.14 update will be rolling out, and which Android devices will support the new auto-reboot feature. These Android feature drops can typically take a week or two to appear.
It’s unclear if devices will notify users why an automatic reboot has occurred, though Android phones already display a message on the PIN screen if users need to enter their passcode to fully unlock the device after a reboot.
