Google Wants To Make Stolen Android Phones Basically Unsellable

Smartphones are prime targets for theft due to their personal data and resale value. To combat this, Android has long included Factory Reset Protection (FRP), a feature that locks stolen phones if they’re wiped improperly. Now, Google is taking FRP to the next level in Android 15, aiming to make stolen devices virtually unsellable.

FRP is triggered when a phone is reset via recovery mode or Google’s Find My Device. In these cases, the user must verify ownership by signing in with the previously linked Google account or entering the original screen lock credentials. If verification fails, the phone becomes unusable. While effective, tech-savvy thieves have found ways to bypass the setup wizard, allowing unauthorized use.

Android 15 introduces major FRP enhancements to close these loopholes. If someone bypasses the setup wizard, they still can’t add new Google accounts, set a screen lock, or install apps. Crucially, enabling developer options like “OEM unlocking” won’t disable FRP anymore. The protection stays in place until the correct credentials are provided.

Google also previewed a new fail-safe during its Android Show: I/O Edition. If Android detects a setup bypass, it will prompt a second factory reset and refuse functionality until ownership is verified. This persistent lockout mechanism makes it extremely difficult for thieves to repurpose stolen phones.

These updated protections are expected to roll out “later this year,” possibly in a post-launch update to Android 16. By making it harder to reset and reuse stolen devices, Google is reinforcing Android security and cutting down the black market appeal of stolen phones—potentially making phone theft a far less lucrative crime.