4 security features I always set up on every new Android phone, and you should too

Every time I set up a new Android telephone, I do the standard stuff first — putting in my favourite apps, signing into my accounts, eradicating bloatware, and customizing the look and really feel of the system. However that’s not the place I cease. I additionally spend a couple of minutes reviewing key security settings for further peace of thoughts.

Android telephones include loads of built-in protections, and among the most vital ones come pre-enabled. Nonetheless, there are a number of essential security settings that want guide setup or a fast verify to make sure they’re configured correctly.

Actually, I have little or no hope of recovering my telephone if I ever lose it in a crowded place. But when I ever neglect it in a cab and even at a good friend’s home, Discover Hub can save me a variety of complications. And that’s precisely why it’s one of many first security features I set up on any new telephone. When I say “set up,” although, it’s much less about enabling the function and extra about making certain every part truly works as anticipated.

Android’s Discover Hub function is routinely enabled as soon as you register along with your Google account. What makes it so helpful is that it doesn’t rely simply on your telephone’s web connectivity or GPS. In case your telephone ever goes offline, Discover Hub can nonetheless use Google’s crowdsourced community of Android units to find it. And when the worst occurs, you can use Discover Hub to view your telephone’s location on a map, make it ring, lock it remotely, or erase it solely. Once more, you don’t must allow it manually, but it surely’s greatest to ensure it’s working whereas you even have your telephone.

My Galaxy S26 additionally consists of Samsung’s personal device-tracking service referred to as Discover My Cell. Like Discover Hub, it’s enabled by default, however I like to show on its non-compulsory features — most notably Ship final location, which routinely uploads the telephone’s final identified location every time the battery is about to die.

Theft safety is one other vital security function I hope I by no means should rely on. It kicks in routinely when somebody snatches your telephone out of your hand and tries to run off with it. Sure, your telephone can detect this utilizing a mixture of on-device sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AI. Like Discover Hub, Theft Detection Lock additionally comes pre-enabled, however I like to show on a number of associated features.

The primary one is Id Test. This makes it more durable for somebody to take over the Google account that’s linked to my telephone. It mainly requires biometric authentication for issues like utilizing the “Forgot password” choice or altering account restoration strategies.

I additionally allow Offline System Lock. It routinely locks the telephone if it’s disconnected from the web for an prolonged interval. That’s helpful as a result of one of many first issues a thief is more likely to do is flip on airplane mode, so you can’t monitor the system utilizing Discover Hub.

Lastly, there’s the Failed Authentication Lock, which does precisely what the title suggests. It locks the telephone’s display screen and delicate apps when authentication makes an attempt fail repeatedly. This merely buys you some further time to find or erase your telephone by way of Discover Hub. All three of those features are non-compulsory, however I’d a lot reasonably have them enabled than disabled. You will discover them on your telephone underneath Settings > Google > All companies > Theft safety.

Superior Safety is among the newer security features launched with Android 16. It’s disabled by default, which is smart as a result of it may be a bit restrictive. Nonetheless, I assume the added security is well worth the trade-off.

Not like most security features, Superior Safety doesn’t do one particular factor — it combines a number of protections to make your telephone safer. One among its features is Inactivity Reboot, which routinely restarts the telephone if it’s been locked for 3 days straight. This makes it a lot more durable for somebody to entry the telephone by way of superior attacking strategies. One other factor it does is block 2G networks on your telephone, that are usually much less safe in comparison with 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. To allow Superior Safety on your telephone, head to Settings > Security and privateness > Superior Safety and flip on System Safety.

Superior Safety additionally strengthens security throughout Google’s apps. As an illustration, it permits secure searching in Chrome, spam safety in Google Telephone, and blocks unsafe hyperlinks in Google Messages. And talking of dangerous hyperlinks, Superior Safety additionally turns on reside menace detection, which is a part of the Android Secure Shopping function. It might probably determine and block phishing hyperlinks and net pages in supported third-party apps. So sure, the safety goes past Google’s personal apps and companies.

The one catch, at the least for me, is that Superior Safety blocks sideloading. Since I rely on a number of apps that aren’t obtainable on the Play Retailer, I should briefly disable the function each time I wish to set up or replace them. It’s undoubtedly an inconvenience, however one I’m pleased to place up with in alternate for all of the safety it provides.

A SIM lock isn’t technically an Android function, however I’d say it’s simply as vital as any of the security features I’ve talked about to date. It provides an additional layer of safety to your telephone quantity by requiring a PIN each time the SIM card is inserted right into a new telephone or the telephone is restarted. Sure, it’s a bit old style, but when somebody steals my telephone, I don’t need them shifting my SIM to a unique telephone and receiving calls and OTPs meant for me. To set up a SIM lock, head to Settings > Security & privateness > Extra security settings > SIM card lock.

I additionally make sure that to make use of two-factor authentication on all my vital accounts, particularly my Google account. In any case, if somebody has entry to that, they may probably monitor and even remotely erase my telephone. I favor utilizing Google Authenticator as a result of it’s usually safer, however truthfully, any type of 2FA is healthier than none. If you favor authentication prompts or SMS verification, use that to maintain your vital accounts secure.

So there it’s — my security guidelines for setting up a new Android telephone. If there’s one other security setting that you always verify or modify, share it within the feedback under.