Samsung is encouraging users of its Galaxy devices to activate the anti-theft functionalities incorporated into their smartphones. With a surge in smartphone thefts, these features are crucial for safeguarding sensitive information if your device is ever compromised.

These enhancements are built upon a broader set of anti-theft functionalities that Google introduced with One UI 7, initially available for the Galaxy S25 series earlier this year. According to announcements from Samsung, older flagship models can now also access these vital security protections. It is advisable to enable them at your earliest convenience once they appear on your device.

The anti-theft measures currently available to Galaxy users are not new or unexpected. Google has continuously developed its anti-theft protection suite for Android, which now includes features for recognizing scams and a robust device-level Advanced Protection that came with Android 16.

Among Android’s theft protection tools is the Theft Detection Lock, which detects unusual motion indicative of theft and locks the screen immediately. The Offline Device Lock feature ensures your screen becomes locked if the connection is lost for a prolonged duration. Additionally, the Remote Lock option enables complete remote control through your Samsung Find account, allowing you to lock the device and access recovery functions.

A noteworthy feature introduced with Samsung’s One UI 7, based on Android 15, is called Identity Check, which lets you create “Safe Places.” These are designated areas, such as your home or workplace. The verification process mandates biometric identification for accessing or modifying security settings when the device is outside these locations, meaning that even if someone has your PIN, they cannot view sensitive data or deactivate Find My Device.

In addition, the Security Delay feature provides extra protection by imposing a one-hour lockout should there be any attempts to reset the biometric data. This is akin to the protection offered by Apple’s Stolen Device Protection.

The new features were unveiled in One UI 7 for the Galaxy S25 and are currently rolling out to several devices, including the Galaxy S24 series, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip 5, alongside the S23 and S22 series.

To enable these anti-theft measures, navigate to Settings > Security and privacy > Lost device protection > Theft protection. Identity Check can be activated by following the same path: Settings > Security and privacy > Lost device protection > Theft protection > Identity Check, where you can designate your “Safe Places.”