- An automatic reboot function is being implemented on Android phones and tablets
- This will automatically restart your device after three days of inactivity.
- Your phone is safer after a restart, which helps to avoid unauthorized access
Not long ago, we reported how Android could obtain a Safety characteristic of THIEF-THINGE already seen on iPhones, and now that feature is coming.
As seen by 9to5google, the latest update of Google Play Services includes a function that will restart your phone or tablet automatically after three days of inactivity. Then, in other words, if your device has remained blocked for three consecutive days, it will turn off and restart, and there is a good reason for this.
You will see, after a reset, a Android phone or tablet will return to its state ‘before unlocking’, in which your data is encrypted and is more difficult to unlock, since the biometry is disabled until after the first unlock, so an access code is required.
This is established that it will happen after three days of inactivity because it is likely that if your phone is on but it is not used for three days that someone else has it, like a thief.
Coming soon
Google Play Services 25.14 (which contains this automatic restart function) is now being implemented, but the deployment can take a week or so to reach all phones, and it is possible that the automatic restart function does not be enabled until a while after that, with 9th5google speculating that it could take a few weeks.
As such, we are not sure whether there will be a lever or other option to enable this function, or if it will simply happen automatically. Nor do we know if this feature will come to all Android devices, but it is likely that the most recent phones support it.
Therefore, although it does not prevent the theft of your phone from being stolen, at least it should be more peace of mind that thieves will not be able to access their data.
