Samsung Galaxy Phone 'Repair Mode' Causing Overseas Frenzy... Feeling Secure Using It on S21

Tested with 'Galaxy S21 Ultra'
No photo app when repair mode activated
No previous photos even when camera function on
Message sending impossible... Contacts reset
Complaints over early adoption of latest phones like S22 and Z Flip3

Samsung Electronics introduced 'Repair Mode' to secure smartphone customer information. A reporter activated Repair Mode directly on a 'Galaxy S22 Ultra' smartphone and took a photo of the screen.

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Samsung Electronics announced on the 28th that it will introduce a 'Repair Mode' on Samsung smartphones to prevent misconduct by some smartphone repair shops. Consumer concerns have grown as there have been cases where some private repair shops leaked photos containing customers' private lives without permission or illegally extracted customers' personal information. There were also concerns raised about personal information leaks similar to those involving singer Jung Joon-young, who was sentenced to prison for illegal filming and sexual assault charges, after it was revealed that KakaoTalk conversations and videos were leaked externally when he entrusted his phone to a private phone repair shop in the past.

The first models to apply Repair Mode are the Galaxy S21 series. The reporter's smartphone, the 'Galaxy S21 Ultra,' is included, so the Repair Mode was tested directly.

To activate Repair Mode, first access 'Device Care.' As of the 31st, after updating to the latest software version, Repair Mode was already introduced at the bottom. When Repair Mode was selected, basic instructions and a phone reboot guide appeared. It instructs users to generate logs before starting Repair Mode to identify phone issues. It also added that "the logs record recent problems and used applications (apps) and do not include personal information."

Screenshot of the 'Device Care' app for activating 'Repair Mode'

It took 2 to 3 minutes to generate the log and reboot the smartphone. After rebooting, the first lock screen was set to the default screen, and a message indicated that Repair Mode was active. On the Repair Mode screen, basic apps such as Phone, Messages, Camera, Gmail, and YouTube were visible. The Photos app was not present, and all previously downloaded apps were hidden. When the Camera app was launched and existing photos were accessed, a message stated "No saved photos." Only photos taken after setting Repair Mode were saved. Google accounts, including Gmail, and Samsung accounts were all reset, prompting users to log in again. Messages were indicated to be usable only by the device owner. Existing contacts were reset, but making calls was still possible.

When attempting to exit Repair Mode, users were prompted to choose among three methods: fingerprint, pattern, or facial recognition. Selecting the pattern to exit Repair Mode triggered a smartphone reboot screen, followed by a request to re-enter using pattern recognition. The screen returned to the previously personalized settings and apps, allowing normal access. Since all personal information is stored on a smartphone, it felt reassuring not to have to delete all photos or hide personal information out of fear of easily revealing password patterns.

Samsung plans to continuously strengthen security features for mobile devices, including smartphones and tablet PCs. Shin Seung-won, Executive Director of the Security Team at Samsung Electronics MX Division, emphasized in a recent Samsung Newsroom article, "Technology connects the world more closely than ever, but the associated risks are also increasing," and added, "Samsung's top priority is to ensure customers are safely protected while trying new experiences."

The introduction of 'Repair Mode' is also attracting attention on the overseas community 'Reddit'.

The response has been positive not only domestically but also overseas. On the overseas community Reddit, the news of the introduction of Repair Mode attracted significant attention. A post shared around 5 a.m. Korean time on the 31st received over 60 comments. Experiences of discomfort when entrusting devices to private repair shops were shared. Comments on foreign media such as The Verge, which quickly reported the Korean news, included responses like "This is a groundbreaking feature" and "I hope Apple introduces such a feature too."

However, there are criticisms that the update has not been applied to the latest smartphones such as the Galaxy S22 series or the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3, indicating the need for efforts to expand to other models. Samsung stated, "We are introducing Repair Mode through software updates starting with the S21 series and plan to expand to other models in the future," but did not specify the timing of the rollout. In the Samsung user community 'Samsung Members,' comments such as "When will it be introduced to the rest of the smartphones?" and "Shouldn't it be applied starting with the latest phones?" were raised.