Samsung is quietly beefing up device security with a subtle but highly effective new feature for Galaxy users: "Inactivity Restart." Designed to thwart unauthorized access, the tool automatically reboots the phone if it remains locked and unused for an extended period.

Buried within the Settings app under Security and Privacy > Other security settings, the mechanism acts as a digital failsafe. Once activated, the system monitors the phone's lock status. If the device goes untouched for 72 consecutive hours, it triggers an automatic restart.

This reboot is crucial. It shifts the phone into a significantly higher security state, requiring a PIN, password, or biometric authentication before granting full access to personal data. During this post-reboot phase, the phone heavily restricts background processes. Sensitive information that might normally appear on a lock screen—such as app notifications, caller ID, and alarms—remains hidden until the user verifies their identity. Ultimately, if the device falls into the wrong hands, the window of opportunity for data extraction is drastically narrowed.

While Samsung has yet to make an official announcement, users have already spotted Inactivity Restart surfacing in recent security patches. The feature has appeared on Galaxy S25 models participating in the One UI 8.5 Beta program, as well as on Galaxy Z Fold 7 devices running One UI 8.

Curiously, the recently launched flagship Galaxy S26 series appears to be missing the feature out of the box. This suggests Samsung plans to roll it out in an upcoming software update, rather than baking it into the initial firmware.

There is one crucial catch: the 72-hour timer only starts if the phone is actually locked. If the device is kept awake or lacks a screen lock entirely, the failsafe remains dormant.