What is repair mode in Android phones and how to activate it if you have these phones

What is repair mode in Android phones and how to activate it if you have these phones

It's no secret that Android is one of the most complete and versatile operating systems in the world, offering a huge number of features designed to enhance your experience.

Notable features include the ability to deeply customize your device, support for multiple user accounts, integration with Gemini, and the ability to easily share files between devices.

However, with the arrival of Android 14, Google has released new features that take security and privacy to a higher level, the most important of which is the Repair Mode.

It is a kind of “virtual safe” that protects all the important information on your device when you need to take it in for technical service. Imagine that your cell phone is damaged and you take it in for repair.

In most cases, the technician has full access to your device, which means they can see your photos, messages, contacts, banking details, installed apps, and other personal information. This obviously poses a risk to your privacy.

This is where repair mode comes in handy, as it blocks access to all your personal data, allowing the technician to only access the basic functions of the system to repair your phone.

With this feature, available in Android 14, you can rest assured knowing that your files and information are safe. Once activated, only minimal functionality is enabled, such as the ability to turn on the phone and access the home screen.

It is important to note that to activate Repair Mode, you must have at least 2 GB of internal memory free on your device. This space is necessary for the system to perform the blocking and ensure the security of your data.

Steps to activate repair mode on Android

- Access your phone settings.

- Find the System option and click on it.

- In this section you will find the repair mode option. Click to access.

- Read the information on the screen and click "Enter Repair Mode".

- Enter your phone's PIN, pattern or password to confirm the action.

- Your device will restart and this mode will be activated.

Once the repair mode is activated, you can hand your mobile phone over to the technical service with complete peace of mind. When it is restored, you will only have to enter the PIN, pattern or password again to deactivate the function and regain access to all your data.

It is worth noting that this feature is exclusive to Pixel devices, starting from the Pixel 5a to the Pixel 8 Pro, as well as the Pixel Fold, and it is possible that it will be available on other phones in the future.