Samsung Debuts ‘Repair Mode’ To Keep Your Stuff Out Of Sight From Technicians

While the ‘right to repair’ movement has given consumers the opportunity to tinker with their devices on their own, not all are confident in fixing an entire smartphone, so they’ll still choose to use the conventional mail-in service.

However, there’s often a dilemma when handing over devices to repair businesses; mainly, how to protect user data and sensitive information while still allowing technicians to access the required services. 

To tackle this issue, Samsung has introduced a new ‘repair mode’, first reported by SamMobile, which will allow personnel to explore your device and conduct thorough tests, all while being locked out from your personal data.

Instead, as per Ars Technica, technicians will only be able to see a smartphone’s default applications with blank data. Once the gadget has been fixed, users simply have to re-authenticate it to retrieve all of their information as before. 

Announced in a Korean press release, Samsung says repair mode can be toggled on and off from a smartphone’s settings, disabling access to personal data including pictures, messages, and other accounts. 

At the moment, the new mode will only be available on the Samsung Galaxy S21 series in South Korea, though the company has said it’s planning a wider rollout of the feature in the future. 

[via Ars Technica and SamMobile, cover image via Tktktk | Dreamstime.com]