Android’s auto-reboot feature is definitely a nifty little security upgrade
This auto-reboot feature is designed to activate after 72 hours of Android device inactivity. When triggered, your Galaxy device will restart on its own and enter what’s known as the “Before First Unlock” (BFU) state. In this mode, all user data remains encrypted and inaccessible until the correct PIN, pattern, or password is entered. Biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition won’t work until the passcode is manually entered.
If you leave a phone at work over the weekend, your data stays safe. So if one of your Android devices restarts unexpectedly, it’s likely the new security feature kicking in. It adds an extra layer of protection, especially if a phone is lost, stolen, or left unused. After reboot, anyone trying to access your Galaxy device will be locked out, with no access to apps or files.
The update is rolling out through Google Play services, so no full system or One UI update is needed. There’s no toggle to enable or disable the feature. It runs quietly in the background. You’ll likely only notice it if you’re prompted to enter your PIN after an unexpected restart. You’ve probably guessed it. This is Google borrowing from Apple’s playbook (iOS 18.1) and GrapheneOS, both of which have introduced similar proactive security measures
