Your Android phone now auto-restarts if it's been locked for three days
Google is currently in the process of rolling out the latest update to Google Play Services. This is a way in which the Android maker can issue some updates outside of the actual OS updates, and that's exactly what's happening this time around.
Once your Android phone receives the latest Google Play Services update, labeled 25.14, it will automatically restart if it has been locked for three consecutive days.
This is a security feature meant to take the phone into its "Before First Unlock" state, where it will land after the auto-reboot. In this state, data is encrypted and harder to access than it is if the phone is in its "After First Unlock" state, once you have entered your passcode upon any restart.
Apple launched a similar feature in iOS 18.1 last year (Inactivity Reboot is what it's called there), and it's good to see Google following suit. This will work on Android phones and tablets, but not Wear OS devices.
Reader comments
- Anonymous
There is no such thing as a door for governments. If there is a door, that's for everyone. Computers don't know that you're a government official of not.
- 17 Apr 2025
- 70d
I actually don't agree with this supposed security measure. I hope it's an "opt-out" feature, I don't want my device to restart itself automatically. I don't even care if that means it's more insecure; I just want m...
- 17 Apr 2025
- k9h
- Anonymous
This has nothing to do with "green" or an "agenda"
- 17 Apr 2025
- Fv1