Google’s new anti-theft tools will make Android phones almost useless to thieves

Google has begun rolling out at least three new tools aimed at rendering an Android phone almost useless to thieves by blocking access to stored data. According to a new report, select Android devices have received features called Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock as part of a new update, while other users are seeing a third tool called Remote Lock. While each tool has a specific job, all three are designed to protect data from anyone trying to pry into the phone after it has been stolen.

Android enthusiast and journalist Mishaal Rahman has posted screenshots of the Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock functionalities that showed up on his Xiaomi 14T Pro after a software update. The most interesting feature is the Theft Detection Lock, which according to its description on the phone’s screen locks the screen when the system detects “common motion associated with theft.” This could be a hurried movement when someone snatches the phone out of a user’s hand. The other tool, Offline Device Lock, locks a phone’s screen when it has been offline for a long time.

 

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The third tool, called Remote Lock, was not available on Rahman’s phone, but he said multiple users have confirmed the feature’s availability in the US. However, these users also reported not seeing the first two features. Remote Lock lets users lock their phone remotely, that is when they cannot log into Find My Device using their password. Google allows users to log into their accounts through their registered mobile numbers and lock the devices.

The new anti-theft tools are visible to a handful of users in the US, per Rahman, who also said that Google is likely to expand the availability in the coming days. He added that Theft Detection Lock and Offine Device Lock will work on devices running Android 10 or higher versions, while users will need at least Android 5 for Remote Lock to work. In case the phone is eligible but the tools still do not show up, it is recommended to update Google Play Services. However, Google rolls out new features in batches instead of releasing them at once like Apple .