News
Android’s upcoming stolen device protection may arrive in One UI soon
Key Points:
- Android may soon introduce a feature similar to iOS’s Stolen Device Protection in Samsung’s One UI.
- A new “Identity Check” feature will use biometrics to lock apps outside trusted locations.
- Expected updates to roll out through Android’s future Feature Drop updates, currently in beta testing.
Android users may soon see an iOS-like Stolen Device Protection feature added to Samsung’s One UI. Google is working on an Identity Check feature, which will require biometric authentication to unlock certain apps. This upgrade could be a significant step toward enhancing privacy by preventing unauthorized access, particularly if the device is in unfamiliar or untrusted locations.
Samsung regularly incorporates the latest Android security and privacy features into One UI. With this in mind, it’s expected that a feature resembling iOS’s Stolen Device Protection might come to Galaxy devices soon. While the feature is still under development, hints of its potential functionality have already surfaced.
Recent findings suggest that Google is working on an Identity Check feature for Android. This feature will prompt users to use biometrics like fingerprint or face recognition to unlock apps when the phone is outside a trusted location. If your phone is at home or in another pre-set trusted area, this additional authentication won’t be needed.
Mishaal Rahman, a tech insider, discovered a new string in Android’s Settings app, indicating this feature. The string reads “Identity Check is on,” suggesting that Android will activate biometric prompts when necessary. It also seems that Android might ignore traditional PIN, password, or pattern fallback methods in these cases, pushing users to rely on biometric data when outside trusted locations.
This Identity Check feature could be rolled out through an update to Android’s Trusted Places tool, which currently keeps phones unlocked in specific locations, like your home. The new feature would determine when biometric authentication is required based on where the phone is used.
At the moment, Google is testing various new features and improvements through Android 15’s QPR Beta Program. Many of these updates, including this potential Stolen Device Protection, could be made available in upcoming Feature Drop updates.