Google wants to make stolen Android phones basically unsellable

Nick Fernandez / Android Authority TL;DR Google is enhancing Android’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) to make stolen phones harder to use by forcing another factory reset if setup wizard bypasses are detected. This upcoming improvement, announced during The Android Show: I/O Edition, aims to block unauthorized use entirely until previous ownership is verified via Google account or screen lock. While Android 15 already strengthened FRP against common bypasses, this new measure will likely debut later this year, possibly in an Android 16 QPR. Smartphones are common targets for thieves because they contain valuable personal data and fetch high prices on second-hand markets. To protect this data, Android includes theft protection features that lock down a stolen phone. While thieves might try wiping phones they intend to sell, Android already has robust protections against unauthorized factory resets. Google announced today that these factory reset protections will become even more pow ... Read full article.