Google Introduces New Feature To Make Stolen Android Phones Difficult To Sell, use.

Google is working on new security features to combat smartphone theft by making it harder for thieves to wipe and resell stolen Android devices. The company announced that the new enhancements to Android's Factory Reset Protection (FRP) will go live later this year (2025). Google is set to make it difficult to resell Android phones 

Android already includes theft protection features, particularly FRP, which prevents unauthorised users from setting up a stolen phone after a factory reset.

But in recent years, some thieves have found ways to bypass these safeguards. Android Authority reports that Google promises to “further harden” FRP by restricting all functionalities on reset devices until the legitimate owner verifies their identity. The improvements are designed to neutralise bypass techniques. Under the current FRP system, if a device is factory reset using the Android recovery menu or remotely through the Find My Device service, the setup wizard demands proof of ownership—either the previous Google account login or the screen lock credentials.

There are several ways to factory reset an Android phone, but using the recovery menu or Google’s Find My Device triggers Factory Reset Protection (FRP). "During setup, you must verify ownership by signing into the previously linked Google account or entering the former lock screen credentials. Without this verification, the device cannot be used.