Google wants to make stolen Android phones basically unsellable
Google is upgrading Factory Reset Protection to make it even harder for thieves to sell stolen phones
- Google is enhancing Android’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) to make stolen phones harder to use by forcing another factory reset if setup wizard bypasses are detected.
- This upcoming improvement, announced during The Android Show: I/O Edition, aims to block unauthorized use entirely until previous ownership is verified via Google account or screen lock.
- While Android 15 already strengthened FRP against common bypasses, this new measure will likely debut later this year, possibly in an Android 16 QPR.
Smartphones are common targets for thieves because they contain valuable personal data and fetch high prices on second-hand markets. To protect this data, Android includes theft protection features that lock down a stolen phone. While thieves might try wiping phones they intend to sell, Android already has robust protections against unauthorized factory resets. Google announced today that these factory reset protections will become even more powerful later this year.
You can factory reset an Android phone in several ways. However, triggering a reset through the Android recovery menu or Google’s Find My Device service activates Factory Reset Protection (FRP). During setup after such a reset, the wizard requires you to verify ownership by either signing into the previously associated Google account or entering the device’s former lock screen PIN, password, or pattern. Failing this verification step blocks setup completion, rendering the device unusable.
