14 DAY TRIAL // Back in July, Samsung came up with a brilliant test for Galaxy S21 users in Korea. A so-called maintenance mode, which was available only for testing, allowed owners of this particular model to send in their devices for repairs without the need for resetting the smartphones to protect their data.
This is because the maintenance mode blocks access to personal information, including photos, messages, and contacts.
Now Samsung is expanding this new feature to users across the world beginning with the Galaxy S22, with more devices projected to receive the same functionality in the coming months.
“Maintenance Mode is a way of creating a separate user account when you hand in your device to be repaired so they can operate core functions without being able to access to any of your private information. All the user needs to do is select Maintenance Mode in the “Battery and device care” menu within “Settings” and reboot their smartphone. As soon as it’s rebooted, all their personal information including their photos, documents and messages will be restricted,” Samsung explains.
The maintenance mode will roll out to users gradually in the coming months as part of One UI 5 (and Android 13), but Samsung says the process would continue in 2023, with more models to come.
Needless to say, it’s probably safe to assume that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23, which will launch in January, will come with the maintenance mode built-in.
“Once Maintenance Mode is switched on, the person who was entrusted with the device won’t be able to retrieve user-installed apps either. Data or accounts generated when using Maintenance Mode are automatically deleted as soon as the owner exits Maintenance Mode. They will be able to download apps on Galaxy Store, but those will be automatically deleted along with any data or accounts created as soon as the owner exits Maintenance Mode,” Samsung concludes.