In a recent update to Google Play Services, the tech giant revealed a new security feature that could soon reboot your Android smartphone automatically — and this move could actually boost your device’s safety.

According to the update, Android phones left unused for three consecutive days will automatically restart. While this might sound intrusive at first, the reboot comes with key security benefits.

There are two primary reasons why this feature is important:

First, after a reboot, the only way to unlock a phone is by entering the PIN — biometric options like fingerprint or facial recognition won’t work until the PIN is input manually. This ensures added protection, especially for users who haven’t set up any screen lock. A forced PIN entry makes it much harder for unauthorized individuals to access your device or the data on it.

Second, the update enhances encryption security. Android devices operate in two states: Before First Unlock (BFU) and After First Unlock (AFU). In the BFU state, your phone’s contents are completely encrypted, meaning that even advanced tools can’t extract the data.

This security measure also affects how law enforcement and investigative agencies handle seized phones. Since the BFU state kicks in automatically after a reboot, authorities have a limited window to access a device before it locks down data access completely.

“A BFU phone remains connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, meaning that if you lose your phone and it reboots, you'll still be able to use location-finding services.”

The feature is listed in Google’s April 2025 System release notes, and while it appears to extend to Android tablets, it won’t apply to wearables like the Pixel Watch, Android Auto, or Android TVs.

As of now, Google hasn’t clarified whether users will have the option to turn off this feature or customize the three-day timer.

Because it’s tied to Google Play Services, users will receive the feature passively — there’s no need for a full system update to access it.