Samsung has been experimenting with a unique feature for its own Android smartphones. The “Maintenance Mode” feature is now ready for mainstream deployment. The feature protects the user’s data while a damaged smartphone is being repaired or is unavailable from its owner. Smartphone repair is shockingly common. These devices must be given to technicians to repair and can take weeks. Samsung’s solution could be the primary protection that should be present on all smartphones.
How does Samsung’s “repair mode” work?
Smartphone companies and third-party repair shops require owners to get their smartphones repaired at repair centers or shops. Needless to say, this can be a safety concern for many people. Owners are rightly concerned about their data being accessed or copied.
It may not be possible to take a complete backup and delete all data on the phone before sending it in for repair. Thus, Samsung has developed an ingenious solution that protects the owner’s data when the device is not in the owner’s control. The company calls it “maintenance mode”.
Samsung has launched ‘Maintenance Mode’ globally. The company has been testing the feature for some time in South Korea and China. Therefore, the features are not a secret. It can be accessed by navigating to the feature. settings > Battery and device care > Maintenance mode.
Once the repair mode is on, the phone will reboot and switch to a new guest user account. This guest mode temporarily blocks access to personal files such as photos, videos, documents, credit card information, and other content stored on the device.
Technicians can easily perform any physical repair on a Samsung Android smartphone while it is in repair mode. You can test all core functions while maintainers remain unlocked. You can install apps from the Galaxy Store that automatically uninstall after a reboot.
Will all Android smartphones get the new security feature?
A feature that protects user data, especially when smartphones are being repaired, should be a commonly available feature. However, only select Samsung Android smartphones will receive the feature.
Samsung is rolling out the maintenance mode feature to its Android smartphones that are eligible for the One UI 5 system update. Samsung is slowly adding more phones to the list but the number of devices receiving Android 13 based custom layer is very low.
Although Samsung offers the feature, it can be designed for most modern smartphones that receive the Android 13 update. In fact, Xiaomi has its own version, a maintenance mode in MIUI itself, but the feature does not seem to be widely available on the company’s devices.
Incidentally, Google has the power to include repair or maintenance mode in the original Android OS. In other words, the company can offer the feature as a system application. So if smartphone users and manufacturers are asking the company, this crucial feature might be available in Android 14.
Best mobile phones in India