Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Samsung has introduced a new Repair Mode for Galaxy phones.
- It will restrict access to your phone’s personal data while it’s out for repairs.
- The feature will first roll out in South Korea on the Samsung Galaxy S21 series.
Samsung is adding a new Repair Mode to Galaxy phones to calm anxious customers who don’t trust technicians with their devices.
It’s always nerve-racking when you have to drop off your phone at a repair center, not knowing if your personal data would be safe or not. You also don’t want repair techs snooping through your device for private photos, messages, or financial information.
Samsung’s Repair Mode prevents all that. The mode will appear in the settings under the “Battery and Device Care” menu. Once selected, the phone will reboot and restrict access to personal data. Only default pre-installed apps will be accessible while the phone is in Repair Mode.
Once the device is fixed, users can exit Repair Mode and access personal data again. They’ll just have to reboot and unlock their phones through pattern/fingerprint recognition.
Unfortunately, the feature is only coming to Galaxy devices in South Korea for now, but we don’t see why Samsung won’t launch it in other markets too.
