Android Phones to Reboot After 3 Days of Inactivity for Added Security

Android is introducing a new security feature that will automatically reboot phones and tablets after three days of being locked, enhancing data protection on idle devices. This update, part of the latest Google Play services (version 25.14), aims to prevent unauthorized access to personal data when a device is left unused.

Once the device hits three days without being unlocked, it will automatically restart and enter a “Before First Unlock” (BFU) state. In this state, the phone’s data remains encrypted, and users must enter their PIN to access it — biometric login methods like fingerprint or face recognition will be disabled until the PIN is entered. This ensures that even if a device falls into the wrong hands, accessing its content becomes much more difficult.

This auto-reboot feature will apply to Android phones and tablets but will not extend to other Android-based platforms like Android Auto, Android TV, or WearOS smartwatches. It mirrors Apple’s recently announced “Inactivity Reboot” in iOS 18.1, which restarts iPhones after four days of inactivity. 

Although it’s not yet clear whether users will receive a notification explaining why their device restarted, Android already prompts users to enter their passcode after a reboot — a behavior that’s likely to continue with this update.

Google has not yet provided an exact rollout date or a full list of compatible devices, but updates to Google Play services generally become available over the course of a week or two. Until then, Android users can expect their devices to become slightly more secure — automatically — with this small but meaningful feature upgrade.