Samsung Adds “Inactivity Restart” Security Feature to Galaxy Phones

Samsung is rolling out a new security feature for Galaxy smartphones called Inactivity restart. Designed to strengthen device protection, the feature automatically restarts a phone if it remains locked for an extended period. A recent security update appears to have added the function to supported models.

Galaxy devices can now restart automatically if unused for several days

The new option sits inside Settings > Security and Privacy > More security settings. The “Inactivity restart” toggle is enabled by default, and it automatically restarts the phone if it stays locked for 72 consecutive hours. If the system detects that the device has remained unused and locked for three straight days, it will reboot on its own.

This can help prevent potential misuse if you lose your phone. When a Galaxy phone restarts, it enters a more secure state that limits access until the user unlocks it with a PIN, password, or biometrics. During this period, certain features remain restricted, including notifications from some apps, caller details, and alarms.

In practice, this means that anyone who finds or steals your phone won’t be able to access much information after the restart. The device requires authentication before restoring normal functionality. However, for the feature to work as intended, it’s important that your phone is locked in the first place. Otherwise, the inactivity timer won’t trigger, making the feature ineffective.

While Samsung never officially announced its rollout, a recent security update seemingly added Inactivity restart to a bunch of Galaxy phones. We can confirm its availability on Galaxy S25 units running One UI 8.5 Beta. It’s also available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 on One UI 8. However, the newly launched Galaxy S26 phones lack the feature. Samsung may add it with an upcoming update for the new flagships. We will keep you posted.