Google's Android device manager allows remote locking

Good news for owners of Android smartphones: Google has updated its Android Device Manager to allow the remote locking of smartphones in case of theft or loss.

 

Enthusiast site Android Police said the upgrade, which “quietly” went live, also overrides previous lock settings in securing the device.

 

“The functionality is incredibly robust. Even if you have your device locked with a pattern, PIN, or other method, the Device Manger will instantly override it. You’ll be asked to choose a new password when submitting the lock request, and that’s the code you’ll use to unlock the device when (hopefully) you have it in hand again,” Android Police said.

 

It added the functionality may even turn the screen off. If the device is in Airplane mode, “the lock request will be completed as soon as the device is reconnected.”

 

However, the owner of the Android device should make sure the Android Device Manager is enabled in the Google settings app.

 

A separate article on The Next Web said the remote locking feature is a “much-needed addition to the service,” which initially let a user “ring your handset, locate it on a map and completely erase it.”

 

“Now, if you’re not wishing to delete data on your phone – presumably because you have high hopes of getting it back – you can action the locking feature and then override it with a passcode when you get your hands on it again,” it added. — TJD, GMA News