Smartphone makers are increasingly adding features to protect user data when devices remain unattended. A new security update now introduces an additional safeguard for users of Galaxy smartphones.
Samsung has introduced a security feature called Inactivity Restart for its Galaxy smartphones. The feature arrives with the latest updates to One UI and is designed to automatically restart a device if it remains locked and unused for an extended period.
The functionality is similar to an existing feature available on Android devices that restarts a phone after it stays locked for 72 hours. A comparable feature was also introduced by Apple with iOS 18.1, which reboots inactive iPhones after 3 days.
With the new Inactivity Restart option, a Galaxy smartphone will automatically reboot if it remains locked for 72 hours without any successful unlock attempt. The feature works only when the device stays locked during the entire period.
Users can enable the feature through the Settings application. It is located under Security and Privacy, inside More security settings, where users can toggle the Inactivity Restart option.
After the device restarts, the smartphone enters a more secure state. During this stage, access to certain information is restricted until the user unlocks the device. Notifications from some apps, caller details, and alarms may remain hidden until authentication is completed using a PIN, password, or biometrics. If the SIM card is locked, users may also need to unlock it before receiving calls.
Google previously introduced a similar automatic restart safeguard through a Google Play Services update last year. The feature aims to protect user data if a device is lost or stolen by ensuring the phone returns to a secure state after long inactivity, where stored data remains encrypted until the owner unlocks the device.
Reports suggest that the Inactivity Restart feature has started appearing on some Galaxy smartphones with the February 2026 security patch and newer software versions. It is also expected to be available on Galaxy S25 models running One UI 8.5 beta and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with One UI 8.
However, the Galaxy S26 series does not include the feature yet. The company may add it through a future software update.
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