We keep a lot of sensitive information about our telephones – from conversations with loved ones to apps that show our entire bank account history – so there will be understandably a lot of worries if you have stolen your phone.
Of course, these devices have long been protection to stop suspicious Snooping (including lockschermauthentication), but now new theft detection bars have been added to Android.
As the name suggests, these theft detection functions have been designed to automatically find out that your phone has been swept and then do something about it. Most are now available on Android 10 or later, although you need Android 15 or later to open them all.
Triple-Lock telephone protection
There are three types of locking under the umbrella of the theft protection on Android, all built into phones with Android 10 or later. The first is theft detection lock, of which Google says it uses AI to detect when your phone has been taken and then automatically locked your phone – so it cannot be accessible without a face, fingerprint, pin or pattern (whatever you are chosen to your locking screen).
How does it detect when your phone is stolen? Google gives no details, But “Common movement associated with theft”, and then thieves who usually try to “run, cycle or drive away”. It sounds like the AI looks out for a sudden commotion and then moving your phone at high speed. If the algorithm makes a mistake, you can of course unlock your phone.
Secondly, we have offline device lock. This is another automatic locking protocol, and this starts when your handset has been offline for a long time: often thieves will try to disconnect a telephone from the grid to wipe or lock you remotely, and this protects against that. Google says it can also activate if too many failed authentication attempts are made.
Third and finally there is external lock, which works as part of the Find My Device service. You can lock your device for a long time via the internet if it is lost or stolen, but external locking works, even if your phone cannot be detected on the card: you only have to enter your telephone number and answer a security demand. The handset then locks to prevent further access.
Improvements behind the scenes
There are now some extra theft protection functions in Android that are slightly less striking, and these are part of Android 15 (and later). To begin with, more of the most important security functions on Android authentication (with a fingerprint, face, pin or pattern) require: an example would disconnect a phone from the Find My Device network, which often try to do thieves.
In addition, if you try to perform certain important tasks outside of familiar locations – such as changing your pin, access to the theft detection functions that we are talking about here, or coming to your account pass keys – you need biometric authentication, and the pin of the Phone is not enough. These guards look at a thief how to enter your pin, steal your handset from you and then use the pin to make changes to the settings.
Then there is a change in the factory reset process. This is now only possible for a user who logs in to the Google account that is linked to the phone -for example with a password and an authenticator app. That means that everyone who wipes it and tries to reset it, is unable, making it more difficult to sell and stealing makes it less attractive.
There is also a new function called Private Spaces, with which you can close certain apps behind a second pin code, other than the one who is used to unlock your phone – so that you can, for example, place apps related to banking and health. Choose to start with private spaces Security and privacy Than Private room of institutions.
How access to theft detection functions
You can see from the descriptions that most of these theft detection functions work automatically, and several of them are switched on automatically as Android is updated. However, you must switch on the three specific locks. Choose from Settings in Android Security and Privacy> Device Unlock> Theft protection.
At the top of the list, switch on Theft detective locking and tap Put in On the mounting screen (which explains how the function works). Just below is the Offline device lock Switch switch, and again you can read how it works before tapping Put in To confirm and activate your choice.
Pick External lockAnd you get a special screen for this function: Enable Use external lock To switch it on. You may be asked to verify your telephone number – that is necessary to lock your handset remotely in the future – and you will also receive instructions for what you should do if your phone is torn away. You can also lock other devices remotely from this screen.
Also important on the Theft protection screen Identity controlwhich applies some of the other changes mentioned above, including biometric authentication for changes to important institutions. You will be asked to confirm your identity and to specify trusted places, such as your home and office – and outside these places the extra protection is switched on.
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