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Summary
- Android 16 will block new USB connections when the phone is locked, protecting it from physical attacks.
- This feature works by disabling USB data signaling until the phone is unlocked.
- More security features like app sideloading restrictions are expected, enhancing overall device protection.
Security experts have been telling us for years to keep our phones safe while charging in public. Most of us simply rolled our eyes and muttered “OKAY mom.” Then we scurried off to plug our devices into the first clean charger we saw at the local Starbucks. Well, Android 16 wants to help us practice safe charging .
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Google is adding a new feature to Android 16 that blocks new USB device connections while your phone is locked (via Android Authority). This will help protect your device from physical attacks using USB peripherals, and could prevent malicious actors from inserting USB devices where they shouldn’t. Talk about a real plug block.
Here’s how Android 16’s USB locking protection works
Advanced Protection Mode disables USB data signaling when the device is locked. Charging still works, but any peripherals (keyboards, flash drives, etc) will be blocked until the phone is unlocked. Security experts call this a USB condom. Usually, it requires installing a third-party piece of software, until now.
APM uses a software-based approach that Google first introduced with Android 12. It was expanded with Android 15’s lockdown mode. The big change we’ll see in Android 16 is blocking new USB devices automatically, without needing the user to do anything. A notification will warn you about ‘suspicious USB activity’ if a device attempts to connect while the phone is locked.
It also disables sideloading of apps, restricts 2G connectivity, enforces Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) for apps, and blocks public Wi-Fi. Google has not yet rolled out an easy toggle for this, but Android Authority’s APK teardown shows the features are already working in Android 16 Beta 4. It won’t be long now.
No more next-morning scares (with your phone)
Android 16 won’t forcibly disconnect a peripheral if you’ve already connected it to your phone. It will block new connections, however. This means you don’t have to worry about your Pixel suddenly missing its monthly update because someone installed a virus on it while you were charging it at that sketchy bar last week.
Once Advanced Protection Mode becomes user-accessible, we’ll all be practicing safe-charging.
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