Samsung launches Maintenance Mode globally for keeping personal data secure while phones are in repair centers

Samsung is bringing the Maintenance Mode to certain Galaxy phones worldwide starting this week. The privacy feature is designed to give users peace of mind while they hand over their devices to repair centers.

Samsung announced on Tuesday that it will start rolling out the new Maintenance Mode to Galaxy phone users worldwide. The feature was initially tested in Korea before it launched in China last month.

"Our whole lives are on our phones, from credit card information to family photos," Samsung Electronics VP Seungwon Shin said in the announcement post. "With Maintenance Mode, we are giving extra reassurance that Galaxy users can keep their privacy, even if they hand their phone to someone."

Galaxy phone owners can enable Maintenance Mode before they send their phones to get repaired. It works by creating a separate user account that allows users to lock their personal information and data so that repair service providers cannot access them while they are handling the device. Maintenance Mode essentially prevents service providers from accessing users' photos, installed apps, messages, and contacts.

Repair service providers can use the core features necessary to examine and fix the device using a separate user account. If needed, they can also install apps through Galaxy Store. But all data, accounts, and apps installed while the device is in repair will be automatically deleted once the phone is returned to the owner and Maintenance Mode is disabled.

Galaxy phone owners can turn on the Maintenance Mode through Settings > Battery and device care. They will have to reboot the device to fully enable Maintenance Mode.

Smartphone manufacturers usually advise users to back up their data and delete them before sending their devices for repairs. Depending on the damage, though, this option may not be available all the time. Maintenance Mode should then offer an easier way to keep their data secured before sending a damaged unit to a repair center.

Maintenance Mode will "gradually rollout" to Galaxy S22 models globally this week. Samsung said the feature will also become available to more Galaxy phones, but it will require the One UI 5 software update. "The rollout will continue throughout 2023, with availability expanding to more Galaxy devices," Samsung added.

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