New Theft Protection for Android: Here’s How to Access It!

The Theft Detection Lock is the standout feature, as it uses Google's AI to detect when a phone has been forcibly taken from a user's hand, such as during a robbery. This feature can automatically lock the screen to prevent unauthorized access, even if the thief tries to escape on foot or via a vehicle. Offline Device Lock, another important tool, activates if a thief disconnects the device from the internet, ensuring that the phone becomes unusable even in offline mode. Finally, the Remote Lock feature allows users to secure their phone remotely using just their phone number and a security challenge, without the need to log into their Google account.

To enable these features, Android users should check their "Find My Device" settings, which should include these new tools if their phone is running Android 10 or later. For those seeking another method, they can search for "Theft protection" within their Android settings or navigate to the redesigned Google services page. From there, go to the "All services" tab and locate "Personal & device safety" to activate these options once they become available​.

These features are part of Google's ongoing efforts to make Android devices less appealing to thieves by rendering stolen phones practically useless. Early reports indicate that users on certain devices, like the Xiaomi 14T Pro and some Google Pixel models, have begun seeing these features roll out. Google is expected to continue expanding the rollout to more devices globally in the coming weeks.

Android users interested in enabling these new theft protection tools should check for software updates regularly and familiarize themselves with the Find My Device settings for seamless activation and use.