Google has released a security update for its Android operating system that automatically reboots devices if they remain locked and unused for three consecutive days. This new measure, rolled out through an update to Google Play services, is part of the company’s ongoing effort to strengthen user privacy and security.
The feature is now listed under the “Security & Privacy” section, clearly stating it “will automatically restart your device if locked for three consecutive days.” Google’s decision follows a similar initiative by Apple late last year, when the iPhone maker introduced an automatic reboot function for its iOS devices following extended inactivity.
These automatic reboots significantly enhance device protection by ensuring that phones periodically re-enter their “Before First Unlock” cryptographic state. In this state, data stored on the device remains fully encrypted, making extraction or unauthorized access significantly more difficult. If a phone remains unlocked and active, data is generally easier to breach due to vulnerabilities exposed in the “After First Unlock” state.
This update aims squarely at frustrating efforts by unauthorized parties, including law enforcement agencies, trying to access sensitive information on user devices through forensic tools developed by companies such as Cellebrite and Magnet Forensics.
Google has yet to publicly comment on the specific motivations behind this particular security rollout.
