This Android update may prevent your phone from being stolen.

      Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends

      Google aims to enhance the security of Android phones against theft with an upcoming update that could effectively achieve this goal.

      The company has revealed it's working on improved factory reset protections for Android devices, set to roll out later this year.

      This development is intended to make stolen Android phones extremely difficult to use, deterring thieves by making the effort seem futile.

      The concept is that a stolen Android device becomes essentially unusable unless the original owner is the one to reactivate it.

      Currently known as Factory Reset Protection (FRP), this feature is already available on Android 15, but it was announced during the Google I/O event that it will be more robust in the future.

      The new iteration means that if someone attempts to bypass the setup wizard, they will need the owner's permission to use the device at all. Thus, it will not function as a standard phone unless the owner grants access again.

      Owners can activate the FRP process through Find My Device, which allows for the remote lockdown of the device if it is lost. Importantly, the original owner can also reactivate the phone if it is recovered.

      What’s Google's statement?

      During the Google I/O Edition event, Google outlined plans to "further strengthen Factory Reset protections, which will limit all functionalities on devices that are reset without the owner's consent."

      A screenshot demonstrated an Android phone in FRP mode, indicating that it can detect attempts to bypass the setup wizard, thereby enforcing another factory reset. This aims to prevent any unauthorized access, making the device nonfunctional for anyone except the original owner.

      When will the updated FRP be available?

      Google has indicated this update will be released later this year. Given that Android 16 is expected soon, it’s likely this feature will not be included in that launch.

      Instead, anticipate this security upgrade to be implemented in one of the Android 16 Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs).

      Luke has over twenty years of experience in technology, science, and health reporting. Among various topics, he covers health tech…

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