Galaxy S26 users will soon find a new security feature in their devices, enabling an "Inactivity restart" after 72 hours of not being used. This feature is part of the February 2026 security patch, which also introduces similar functionality to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 models. Under Settings > Security and Privacy > More security, users can enable this option, which is not activated by default.
When the phone restarts after the inactivity period, it will enter Before First Unlock (BFU) mode, requiring a password or PIN for unlocking. During this mode, notifications and alarms will remain inactive, and if a SIM lock is set, incoming calls will be blocked until the SIM PIN is entered. Only essential USB accessories will function until the device is unlocked.
This move reflects Samsung's ongoing efforts to enhance security, following Google's introduction of a similar feature in Android 16. Apple had previously implemented an inactivity timer in iOS 18, which has evolved since its initial seven-day threshold.