Samsung's Maintenance mode lets you block access to your data while your phone is serviced

25 October 2022
The new feature is now starting to roll out globally.

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Samath N8 808 owner, 27 Oct 2022No, by default Android devices' personal data is not e... moreknox isnt just an security agent thing. its the tool to prevent end users installing custom rom into it.

    Anonymous, 28 Oct 2022If you want micro SD, get Samsung Galaxy A series (which DO... moreeven the S series you called it "luxury" the sd card is still relevant in case if their device broke and need to retrieve their data for other devices. imagine using that bluetooth crapbuds and cloud storage as an excuse of removing sd card and 3.5mm jack. android manufacturers likes to follow apple's footsteps in order to maximize profit. the era of innovation is gone, obliterated to ashes

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      • Anonymous
      • 8up
      • 29 Oct 2022

      Anonymous, 28 Oct 2022If you want micro SD, get Samsung Galaxy A series (which DO... moreWhy do you enjoy paying more for less?

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        • Anonymous
        • kcQ
        • 28 Oct 2022

        you have to suffer, 27 Oct 2022i'd rather want sd card back. their last S series with... moreIf you want micro SD, get Samsung Galaxy A series (which DO have micro sd slot) and stop complaining. Galaxy S series is their luxury series: meaning people with money who unlike you can afford cloud storage and bluetooth headphones.

          Mace Moneta, 27 Oct 2022All our Android devices are encrypted by default: Settings ... moreNo, by default Android devices' personal data is not encrypted. Otherwise, how can you clearly read a microSD card's data from a PC?
          Similarly, even phone memory is visible on a PC in mass storage mode.

          In my LG G8x, in the same settings as you mentioned, its giving me an option to encrypt my memory card now, saying that it might take upto 1 hour or more.
          So, you can choose to do it, I think its not default.

          As for Samsung, I don't have a Samsung, and I believe Knox is their security agent, and possibly, may have encryption. I can't say for sure.

            Samath N8 808 owner, 27 Oct 2022Phone being "Encrypted" is a different thing, it ... moreAll our Android devices are encrypted by default: Settings -> Security -> Encryption & credentials. Is it just a Samsung thing that they don't encrypt?

              i'd rather want sd card back. their last S series with sd cards are S20 series.

                Mace Moneta, 27 Oct 2022Aren't all Android phones encrypted by default now? Ho... morePhone being "Encrypted" is a different thing, it means the data itself to be stored in unrecognisable form requiring a key/code to understand the data. Android or most storage mediums are not encrypted by default.

                As for fingerprint lock, they require it be unlocked to repair the software portion of the phone, although this is a bit rare. Most repairing organisations do only 1 thing for software problems: reset the phone. Yes, its stupid.

                  Sinnaoi, 26 Oct 2022Well you can't really blame Samsung for developing a f... moreWell, not loathing any company, but my point was not everyone can use it.
                  And, I consider it unneeded because of the complexties & demerits involved. As for removing microSD slot, well, companies themselves did it, not me.
                  Its like causing the problem in the first place and then solving it through a different method.

                  PS: LG once had an app which backs up your entire phone memory in microSD for such use cases...
                  Anyhow, happy to know its useful for you.

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                    • Anonymous
                    • rJq
                    • 27 Oct 2022

                    Mace Moneta, 27 Oct 2022Aren't all Android phones encrypted by default now? Ho... moreIt's similar to a second user account, so you don't have to give them access to your primary account.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • Fv1
                      • 27 Oct 2022

                      jason, 26 Oct 2022every store I have ever been to, the halfwits will simply r... moreIf they are sending it away, a lot of the time , the receiver of the device will have to refuse to work on the device until the device is factory reset and the Google Account Lock / Find My Iphone is deactivated. They're doing their job

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                        • Mace Moneta
                        • kcx
                        • 27 Oct 2022

                        Aren't all Android phones encrypted by default now? How would anyone gain access to personal information without proper authentication (e.g., fingerprint)? If they can bypass that, they can bypass maintenance mode, since the same authentication is used.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • j}r
                          • 27 Oct 2022

                          As far as I can tell, this is only necessary because Samsung doesn't support the Guest Mode feature from stock Android.

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                            • jason
                            • S3y
                            • 26 Oct 2022

                            every store I have ever been to, the halfwits will simply reset the phone regardless of the repair job, what kind of stupidity is that? there should be a diagnostic mode where they can test the phone without having any access to the users data, oh wait!!! they DO

                              Samath N8 808 owner, 26 Oct 2022What's NOT complicated about it? A team of Samsung ... moreWell you can't really blame Samsung for developing a feature and keeping it exclusive on their phones... That's what everyone does.
                              You are really brilliant for choosing a phone with an SD Slot but as long as there are other people that don't choose that (and they are many) there's a point in developing solutions for them. These are not relevant for you and that's it. It doesn't make them less useful.

                              I had to send my Samsung device in 2 months ago. Backed up everything, so micro SD would mako 0 difference. Got an iPhone as replacement. Hardly any sync between the 2 possible. Got my phone back and had to install everything... log in to every account, reset authenticator apps for 2 step authentication.... Such a headache. Next time won't be that bad hopefully thanks to this feature you loath.

                                notafanboy, 26 Oct 2022What's complicated about it?What's NOT complicated about it?

                                A team of Samsung developers had to work on a piece of software that locks your private things in place, and its not an app, but a system deep setting, but still, your data goes with the phone and in case the phone is further damaged or resetted or software is updated (as is often the case), say good bye to your data.
                                Plus, you can't use it if display is damaged. Plus, if you use a backup phone, no sir your data isn't transferred to the new phone for a few days.

                                Even if this is a "innovative work of humanity" its made out to be, you have to be a Samsung owner to use this feature, or maybe a handful of Huawei's have it.
                                What was simple about it, may I ask you now? As opposed to using a microSD card which is still faster than usb 2.0 & 4G internet by the way.

                                  Samath N8 808 owner, 26 Oct 2022Or, maybe we could use a microSD card and well, sensitive a... moreWhat's complicated about it?

                                    Jacek, 26 Oct 2022Exactly. And what if your phone's failure prevents you... moreFlip and fold are well known for display failures. So yeah, it's hard to activate that mode if you have no display. But it's useful when requesting remote support, where a supporter has remotely access to your phone. Like we know from the old TeamViewer.

                                      Or, maybe we could use a microSD card and well, sensitive apps can be locked by password.
                                      Contacts can be backed up offline using the default app too.
                                      This works in all cases, even if display is gone, and it works for all phones which have card.

                                      Oh damn, why am I so brilliant?
                                      This is maybe the 4th time this month I'm suggesting a super easy solution to a so called complex problem.

                                      And GSMArena survey says microSD's are getting less popular, well of course, if you don't offer new gen buyers a choice, how will they know of it? Instead what they do is complicate everything.

                                        I'm actually surprised this feature never existed on Galaxy phones before, since even my over 3-year-old Huawei P30 has it.

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