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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Android includes a special mode specifically for repairs.
- This mode is available for Pixel and Samsung phones.
- Your phone must be running at least Android 14.
Over the weekend, something fascinating happened — and not in a good way.
It occurred on Saturday, when I learned the March security fix had been released. I quickly checked for an update and, lo and behold, it was ready to be applied. I'm always excited when it's update time for Android.
This time, I should have been hesitant.
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After the update was downloaded, I restarted my phone so it could be applied. When the phone finally rebooted, disaster struck. Android couldn't recognize my SIM. No matter what I did, I couldn't get the OS to see that I did, in fact, have a functioning SIM card installed.
I could connect to a wireless network, but not to my carrier. I rebooted. I disabled and re-enabled networking. I did everything I could think of.
And then I remembered Repair Mode. On a whim, I booted into Repair Mode, only to find that Android could see the SIM card when running in this special mode. Once I knew the SIM was, in fact, visible, I rebooted out of Repair Mode. Android recognized that a SIM card was installed, and everything was back to normal.
Almost. There are still a few issues Google needs to work out in this rather buggy upgrade. That's not the point here.
What I want to talk about is Repair Mode. What is it, and what does it do?
What is Android Repair Mode?
Have you ever taken your Android phone to a third-party service to have it repaired? The last time I did that was a few years ago, after my Pixel suffered a cracked screen. Before taking the phone in, I did a factory reset, because I wasn't about to hand my device over to someone I didn't know and give that person the “keys to my kingdom.”
Upon receiving my phone back, I then had to go about the process of setting everything back up, which isn't difficult. It's just tedious.
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Now, imagine that Android had a special mode you could boot into that would allow a repair shop to do its thing, without you having to first factory reset the device. You boot into that mode, and you don't have to worry that anyone will be able to access your installed apps or data.
That's the gist of Android's Repair Mode.
Repair Mode (or, as it's called on Samsung devices, Maintenance Mode) sets up a sandboxed, temporary profile (on a separate, newly created partition) on your phone that protects your personal information by locking down your data, while still allowing a technician to use all of the phone's functionality. With Repair Mode, your phone can be used as normal, only without access to your personal files and data.
Consider this a must-have feature if you ever have to hand your phone over for repair.
Requirements
To use Android Repair Mode, your device must be running Android 14 or later on a Pixel or Samsung phone and have at least 2GB of available storage space. If you do use Repair Mode when sending or dropping off your device for repair, I would strongly recommend you first remove your SIM.Â
Even though Repair Mode doesn't give Android access to your data, if you keep your SIM in, it will have access to your carrier network. You wouldn't want someone using your phone number for nefarious reasons.
When should you use Repair Mode?
The primary use case for Repair Mode is when your device needs repair, including both drop-off and mail-in options. The good thing about this mode is that even a repair technician cannot switch back to normal mode without your PIN or password.
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You might also use Repair Mode if someone needs to borrow your phone for an extended period. Although that's not what the mode was intended for, it is an option.
How to switch to Repair Mode
Before you do this, I recommend backing up your data just to be safe.
How you switch to Repair Mode depends on whether you have a Pixel or a Samsung phone. Here are the steps for each:
- Pixel: Go to Settings > System > Repair Mode and tap Enter repair mode. You'll be prompted to enter your PIN or password.
- Samsung: To enable Samsung's Maintenance Mode, go to Settings > Battery and device care > Maintenance Mode.
Once you receive your phone back, disable Repair or Maintenance Mode by pulling down the Notification Shade and tapping Exit. You will be prompted for your PIN or password before the phone can switch back to normal mode.
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Use Repair Mode any time you have to hand your phone over for repair, so you don't have to worry about your data being viewed or stolen.
