Code in a Google app teardown points to an “inactivity reboot” feature
This sounds very similar to a security tool available on iPhones
It’s not active yet but will likely launch as part of Android 16
Late last year, Apple added a security feature to iPhones that should make it harder for thieves to use stolen phones – and which also caused issues for law enforcement, and now the same feature could be coming to Android.
The feature in question is known as “inactivity reboot”, and on iPhone it means the device will automatically reboot after three days of inactivity.
On Android, it could be exactly the same, with Android Authority having found a reference to “inactivity reboot” in a teardown of the Google Play Services app. As well as sharing a name with Apple’s feature, it seemingly functions the same, with the code string mentioning that this would restart a device if it remains locked for three days.
The Google Pixel 9 could soon be harder for thieves to unlock (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
