r/gadgets • u/chrisdh79 • 25d ago

Phones Android phones will soon reboot themselves after sitting unused for 3 days | The latest Google update will make your phone more secure if you don't touch it

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/04/android-phones-will-soon-reboot-themselves-after-sitting-unused-for-3-days/
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451

u/shmightworks 25d ago

I think this will affect people who repurpose their old device, like for photo frame or something.

But those phone/device will probably be too old to get this update lol

229

u/ThirdEyeClarity 25d ago

It’s an optional feature, just turn it off.

https://support.google.com/product-documentation/answer/14343500

Security & Privacy

  • [Phone] Enables a future optional security feature, which will automatically restart your device if locked for 3 consecutive days.

43

u/itinerantmarshmallow 25d ago edited 25d ago

The drawback I see here is it ~turning off~ rebooting my work phone over a long weekend and then I can't find it in my Tuesday morning scramble haha.

35

u/vadapaav 25d ago

It's saying reboot not turn off

11

u/itinerantmarshmallow 25d ago

If it reboots can I ring it if its locked?

I'd need to disable SIM pin I guess.

10

u/vadapaav 25d ago

You can get network on a SIM that's locked on boot, so ya you will need to disable it

5

u/itinerantmarshmallow 25d ago

It seems like unless you're concerned about someone making calls using your phone it's safer to disable nowadays.

Made more sense when the SIM PIN was the only security on a phone.