A recent update to Google Play Services revealed a new security feature that auto-restarts Android devices after being locked for three consecutive days. However, Google confirmed that this feature is not yet live and lacks a user interface, set to arrive in a future update. Once available, it will be an opt-in feature, meaning users must manually enable it in Settings. This function aims to enhance security by encrypting data after prolonged inactivity. A similar feature was introduced in iOS 18.1. The timeline for the feature’s release remains unclear, but its potential benefits have been acknowledged.
Yesterday, an in-depth examination of the latest Google Play Services update revealed a new security feature that will automatically restart your phone if it remains locked for three consecutive days.
However, Google has clarified that this feature is not yet active, as it currently lacks a user interface. A user interface is expected to be introduced in a future update. When it becomes available, it will be an opt-in feature, meaning it won’t be enabled by default. Users will need to navigate to Settings to activate it manually if they choose to do so.
The timeline for when this feature will receive a UI and become functional remains uncertain, but hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later. Apple has already integrated a similar feature into iOS 18.1 last year, and since it will be an opt-in option, there’s no downside to having it available.
Once this feature is released and activated, it will automatically restart your Android phone or tablet after it has been locked (meaning it is still on but unused) for a continuous 72 hours. This transition will place the device into its “Before First Unlock” state, where the data is encrypted and more challenging to access compared to the “After First Unlock” state that occurs after entering your passcode post-restart.
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