Most smartphone users think that having a fingerprint lock setting is good enough to keep everything secure. I also used to think the same. My phone has a passcode, biometrics enabled, and security updates installed. I used to think, what more do I even need? Turns out there’s a lot more to explore.
The newest Android 16 debuted with some serious security-focused upgrades. One of those features is Advanced Protection, which is buried deep in the settings, and you won’t find a big pop-up recommending it. Once you discover what this feature actually does, you’ll surely realize that it is one of the most advanced and strongest security upgrades your Android phone offers.
What is Advanced Protection on Android
Google’s most aggressive device protection layer
Introduced with Android 16, Advanced Protection is a system-level security mode that provides Google’s strongest protection against online dangers, malicious apps, unauthorized device access, and other sophisticated threats. It basically hardens your Android smartphone against physical and digital attacks.
This feature is primarily designed for users who want stronger defense, travel frequently, or handle sensitive data. It’s a super-useful feature for high-risk users like politicians, activists, and journalists. That’s not all. Even casual users can benefit from this all-in-one bulletproof security system. It enforces critical security settings like strict app installs and verifications, blocked sideloading of apps, mandatory passkeys to sign in to your Google account, and applies tighter system-level defaults. Overall, it reduces the ways your phone can be compromised.
How to enable Advanced Protection on your smartphone
It only takes a minute
Advanced Protection isn’t turned on by default. You need to enable it manually, and thankfully, it’s a quick and straightforward process. Here’s how to turn it on:
- First and foremost, go to Settings -> System -> Software Update and make sure your smartphone is running the latest Android 16 version.
- Now, open the Settings app and visit the Security and privacy section.
- Here, tap on Advanced Protection.
- On the screen that appears, turn on the Device Protection toggle.
- Next up, tap Turn On to confirm your decision.
- Restart your smartphone if asked.
The Advanced Protection feature holds several security features under a single toggle. So you see, rather than browsing through those endless menus to safeguard your phone, you have to enable just one switch to lock down and protect your Android phone. It enforces Google’s strongest security and privacy options. You can think of it as Android’s equivalent to Apple’s Lockdown mode, which is one of the most important iPhone settings.
What happens when you turn it on
Behind-the-scenes changes
Before you plan to enable Advanced Protection on your smartphone, it’s important to understand its impact. Firstly, you won’t see any dramatic changes right away. Your phone will continue to look the same, with all your settings and customizations intact. That being said, several important restrictions will be implied in the background.
- Device safety: Advanced Protection will enable Theft Detection and Offline Device locks on your phone. Also, your phone will reboot automatically after 72 hours of inactivity.
- Sideloading is blocked: You won’t be able to download apps from unknown sources. If you’ve already downloaded one, Advanced Protection will automatically block app updates. Also, the Google Play Protect feature will be turned on by default.
- USB restrictions: When your phone is locked, Advanced Protection mode won’t allow USB data transfers. This is done to prevent unauthorized data transfer attempts.
- 2G network protections: When Advanced Protection is turned on, your phone can’t connect to 2G networks because they are considered to be outdated and less secure than 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.
- Protection against unsafe browsing: Your phone will turn on Android Safe Browsing to protect you from phishing and malicious websites. Google Chrome will automatically enforce HTTPS for all website connections, when available.
Yes, you might lose some flexibility, but this isn’t a real sacrifice. You won’t be able to download apps outside of the Play Store or tweak certain system behaviors. When you get the strongest defense system in return, these trade-offs feel reasonable.
Enroll your Google Account for maximum protection
Bonus tip
You can pair this device-level protection with Google’s Advanced Protection Program. It is separate from the Advanced Protection toggle and offers protection across Google Docs, Gmail, and more. See, Advanced Protection safeguards your phone and its data, whereas Google’s Advanced Protection Program takes care of your Google account and data stored in the cloud. It will add another layer of security with stronger sign-in verification methods and stricter third-party app controls.
Since your Google account is linked to everything from your Gmail to the Play Store, it makes all the sense to go for another layer of protection. When paired with Advanced Protection, it creates a much stronger defense system at both device-level and account-level.
- To get started, visit Google’s Advanced Protection page and hit the Get Started button.
- Sign in with your Google Account and click the Enroll in Advanced Protection button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions. You might be asked to add a recovery email and recovery phone, if you haven’t already.
If you wish to go back, you can log in to your account, tap your profile icon, and choose Manage your Google account. Then, click on Security and sign-in -> Advanced Protection Program and select the unenroll option.
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The security upgrade that most people overlook
Today, digital security doesn’t only mean locking your screen. After all, sophisticated threats don’t try to guess your phone’s password. Rather, they look for weak security implementations, outdated connections, easy-to-exploit apps, and hidden system vulnerabilities. Thankfully, Android makes stronger efforts to close these gaps with Advanced Protection. That being said, this feature is neither turned on by default nor heavily advertised. As a result, most users don’t even know that something like this even exists.
If your smartphone holds dozens of confidential documents, banking apps, personal photos, and private conversations, Advanced Protection is the most important setting that you need to enable right now. Your phone already offers the strongest protection; it’s just hidden deep inside, waiting to be turned on.
