Android will start rebooting itself after three days on lockdown

A new update to Google Play services includes a feature that will automatically reboot Android devices if they remain locked for three consecutive days. The measure is aimed at improving data security and will work without the need to update the operating system itself.

A new update to Google Play services includes a new feature that will automatically reboot Android devices if they remain locked for three consecutive days.

According to the description for version 25.14 of Google Play Services, the device will automatically restart if it’s not used for more than 72 hours. So far, we’re talking about smartphones and tablets: Android Auto, TV platforms, wearable devices, and Windows desktop apps aren’t included.

According to the description for version 25.14, Google Play Services will automatically restart your device if it’s used for more than 72 hours.

The mechanism works like this: when the device reboots, it goes into a BFU (Before First Unlock) state. In this mode, all data remains encrypted until the user enters a password. Biometric authentication is not yet available at this stage, making unauthorized access to information virtually impossible. For example, on Pixel smartphones, the message “Unlock your device to access all features and data” appears on the lock screen after a restart.

In comparison, AFU (After First Unlock) protection becomes weaker as the system enters an active mode that allows access to a range of data. Thus, a forced reboot returns the device to the most secure state possible.

Analogous features have already been implemented in other systems. For example, the GrapheneOS mobile OS has a default auto-restart after 18 hours of inactivity, and the user can set the interval from 10 minutes to 72 hours. Apple implemented a similar solution in iOS 18.1 called Inactivity Reboot, which activates when the device is inactive for a long period of time.

The version 25.14 Google Play Services update is rolling out gradually and will become available on most modern Android devices over the coming weeks. However, the auto-reboot feature itself may be activated later, as it depends on server configuration. For now, Google isn’t revealing which versions of Android it will work on, nor is it saying whether there will be a custom notification when a reboot occurs or the ability to control the feature manually.