Android adds auto reboot after 3 days of inactivity

Android auto reboot is rolling out via Google Play services. Devices that stay locked for 3 days will now restart automatically for security. The post Android adds auto reboot after 3 days of inactivity appeared first on Phandroid.

Apr 16, 2025 - 05:42

Android adds auto reboot after 3 days of inactivity

Android is quietly rolling out a new security feature, and it’s all about protecting your data when your device goes untouched. With the latest update to Google Play services, Android is introducing an auto reboot that kicks in if your phone or tablet stays locked for three straight days.

This means that if you haven’t interacted with your device for 72 hours, it’ll automatically restart. The idea is to move your device back into a more secure state, known as Before First Unlock (BFU). At this stage, your data stays encrypted, and nothing, including biometrics, gets access until you enter your passcode.

Your phone may feel “locked” when the screen is off, but from a security perspective, there’s a big difference between BFU and AFU (After First Unlock). Once you unlock your device after booting, your encryption keys are active, and data is technically more accessible, even while the phone is locked again.

That’s what makes the Android auto reboot useful. It reduces the attack window for someone trying to break into a lost or stolen device you’ve forgotten about.

Pixel users may already be familiar with the lockscreen message that says, “Unlock for all features and data.” That’s the indicator you’re in a BFU state. That being said, this isn’t a new feature per se. For instance, GrapheneOS has offered a similar feature for years (with customizable reboot timers). Apple also introduced Inactivity Reboot in iOS 18.1 last year.

The feature is listed in the release notes for Google Play services version 25.14, which is now rolling out. Like most Play services updates, it doesn’t require a full OS upgrade. Most Android phones and tablets should get this in the background sometime in the next few weeks.

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