A new feature is included in the new software update for the S20 series. The flagships of 2020 are getting maintenance mode. The feature allows users to hide their data when handing over their phone.
Maintenace Mode was announced by the company in July this year. The company began testing the feature for its flagship models. Some eligible devices got the update. Others are getting it now, including the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra.
There is no access to your apps, photos, messages, or other data when Maintenance Mode is used. It only allows access to core functions and apps so technicians can work on the device efficiently. New apps can also be downloaded by repair technicians. When exiting Maintenance Mode, those are automatically uninstallated. The same applies to any new data generated during the repair process, as well as any photos or documents that may have been stored in it.
Maintenance Mode can be enabled from the battery and device care menu. When enabled, restart your phone and you are good to go. A new user account will allow the phone to restart. To exit Maintenance Mode, the device will need you to verify your identity.
This is the second software update for the series.
The December security patch was the first to be received by the S20 series of phones. The roll out began a few weeks back. The second software update of the month is the newest release. The first release may not have been installed by some users. If you are in Europe, you need to install the update with the G98XXUFGVL5 version to get Maintenance Mode on your S20 unit. The official changelog doesn’t mention the new feature. The update improves the security and stability of functions on the S20 trio.
The software release for the S20 series will be rolled out in batches. The update is limited to a few European countries The update will be global before a wider release in the region. The first December update has yet to be picked up by users in the US. It is not known if Maintenance Mode will be bundled with that release or if the company will seed two different updates for the phones in the US. We will let you know as soon as we can.
