Android Phones Have a Handy Anti-Theft Feature You Should Use

Mobile device security is critical for modern businesses, especially as they play a more prominent and significant role in daily operations. However, data loss is also a problem, regardless of the source… including if a device is wiped via a reset.

While Apple has offered a feature to prevent this for the past year or so, Android 15 now provides the same, referred to as Identity Check. Let’s explore how it works, and how to enable it for yourself.

First of all, we have to start by saying that (as of this writing) this feature is only present on Pixel devices and Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI7. While other device manufacturers may add it to their customized interfaces (and apparently plan to later this year, so they may have already as you are reading this), these instructions currently only apply if you have one of the above devices. 

How Does Identity Check Work?

To protect your device, Identity Check blocks any Android account settings from being changed unless the user is in an approved location or can pass a biometric test. This block covers quite a bit, including:

• Adjusting the screen lock
• Adding a new fingerprint
• Adding a new Google account to the device
• Disabling Find My Device
• Accessing the Password Manager and the data therein
• Accessing developer tools and options

…and, of course…

• resetting the device.

How to Activate Identity Check

Activating Identity Check is simple:

• Access your Settings
• Navigate to Google account
• Select All services
• Find Theft Protection
• Enable Use Identity Check

While you’re there, you can also add trusted locations using Manage. Deactivating Identity Check requires you to either authenticate using your biometrics or log into your Google account.

If you have a Galaxy phone with an older version of One UI, there may still be some helpful options in the Theft Protection menu that you can use.  Some versions have a Theft Detection Lock option that will lock your phone if someone grabs it and runs away.  There is also an Offline Device Lock option that will lock the device when the internet goes offline.  If someone disables the internet to hide the phone's location, this option will lock the phone so the thief cannot access your data.