Android Follows iOS With Automatic Device Reboot

“Your device will automatically reboot if it has been locked for three consecutive days.“

That is the rule with the latest version of Google Play Services. It applies to Android phones and tablets.

Apple had introduced the same mechanism on iOS 18 a few months ago — with very little information about it.

In both cases, the main idea is to strengthen security and privacy. The device effectively returns to a state of maximum encryption, with keys recoverable only by entering the unlock code.
On iPhone, until this operation is performed, for example, it is not possible to connect to Wi‑Fi, view the caller ID of contacts, or read the content of message notifications.

Towards an API to extend Advanced Protection efforts

Alongside this automatic reboot feature, Google appears ready to broaden Android’s Advanced Protection mode.

Introduced in 2017, this mode’s main effect is to require, for signing into a Google account, two‑step verification with passkeys and/or physical security keys. Additionally, it :

• Signals, or blocks, the download of potentially dangerous files
• Only permits the installation of apps from validated platforms (Google Play, ADB and the preloaded app stores)
• Restricts access to Gmail and Drive data to Google services and to a few validated apps (Thunderbird; Apple’s Mail, Contacts and Calendar apps; desktop email clients that access Gmail directly)

In the Android 16 beta, an API appeared intended to allow apps to detect whether Advanced Protection is enabled. If so, they could adapt their behavior (built‑in lock, screenshot blocking, etc.).
Advanced Protection itself would go even further. On the one hand, by cutting the 2G network. On the other, by enabling the Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) to help detect memory corruption bugs.