Android phones to auto-reboot after three days

• Published On: 16 April 2025 at 18:19

Google has discreetly added a new security feature to its Android operating system that will reset devices if they remain locked for three days.

The change, which was implemented on Monday as part of an upgrade to Google Play services, can be found under the "Security & Privacy" settings. The new function is advertised as one that "will automatically restart your device if locked for 3 consecutive days."

Though Google has not formally stated the reason for the upgrade, the move is consistent with ongoing efforts across the tech industry to tighten device security, notably against forensic tools used by law enforcement or hostile actors attempting to access encrypted data.

Apple added a similar feature to iOS last year, aiming to preserve the security benefits of a phone's "Before First Unlock" status. In this stage, vital data is completely encrypted and unavailable without the user's password. When a phone is unlocked, even once, part of its data becomes more susceptible, entering what is known as the "After First Unlock" mode.

Forensic devices created by businesses such as Cellebrite and Magnet Forensics generally use this latter condition to extract data from locked phones, employing tactics such as passcode brute-forcing or exploiting system flaws.

By forcing a reboot after three days of inactivity, Android devices can return to the more secure "Before First Unlock" state, making it far more difficult to access user data without authorisation.

While the feature is unlikely to have an impact on everyday users, it represents a broader push by tech companies to strengthen privacy measures in the face of growing scrutiny over digital spying and law enforcement access to personal devices.

Google has yet to provide an official explanation for the function.