Google to Offer Granular Controls for Advanced Protection Mode in Android 16

Google is developing more granular controls for its Advanced Protection security mode introduced in Android 16. The upcoming changes will allow users to activate specific protections separately instead of enabling the full strict configuration at once.

Researchers at Android Authority found the new options while analyzing Google Play Services 26.36.30. A previously unseen section called Expert features is described as an additional protection layer that can apply individual restrictions.

One of the features expected to move into this section is USB Protection. This function prevents new USB connections while the device screen remains locked, protecting against physical attacks on Pixel 6 and later models. The trade-off is that fast charging may not start until the phone is unlocked.

Another planned option will let users disable automatic connection to open or otherwise unsafe Wi-Fi networks. People who frequently use public hotspots can turn this restriction off and manage the risks themselves.

The third component is intrusion detection. The related Intrusion Logging feature is already optional; it collects security logs and stores an end-to-end encrypted backup in the cloud.

Currently, once Advanced Protection is enabled, most of its components cannot be disabled individually. The new Expert features approach will let users keep the core security set while avoiding restrictions they do not need. Google has not yet officially announced the feature, so release timing remains unknown and the discovered settings may still change.