How to Activate Repair/Maintenance Mode on Your Phone

Why Maintenance Mode Matters

Even if you trust your repair shop, it’s always smart to limit access to your device while it’s out of your hands. Here’s what enabling repair mode can help prevent:

• Unauthorized access to photos, videos, and messages
• Accidental changes to your settings or accounts
• Access to personal apps like banking, email, or health trackers
• Data leaks or tampering during third-party repairs

Whether you’re sending your phone to a manufacturer or visiting a local tech, enabling these privacy tools gives you peace of mind.

And if your phone doesn’t have a built-in option, don’t worry—we’ll explain other simple ways to lock it down.

How to Enable Repair Mode on an iPhone

Apple doesn’t offer a dedicated “Repair Mode,” but there are ways to lock down your device temporarily or permanently before a repair.

Option 1: Guided Access (Good for In-Person Repairs or Demos)

If you’re demoing an issue or staying with your device during the repair, Guided Access locks your screen into a single app, blocking access to everything else.

To enable it:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access
2. Turn it on and set a passcode
3. Open the app you want to show (e.g., Settings or Camera)
4. Triple-click the Side or Home button to start Guided Access

You can end the session by triple-clicking again and entering your passcode.

This is helpful for minor repairs or when demonstrating an issue—just note it won’t protect your data if you leave your phone behind.

Option 2: Lost Mode (Good for Off-Site Repairs)

If your phone is going to a repair centre or being mailed in, Lost Mode is your best bet.

How to activate:

1. Visit iCloud.com/find
2. Sign in with your Apple ID
3. Select your device and choose Lost Mode

This locks your phone remotely with a passcode and disables access to your apps, notifications, and Apple Pay. It’s designed for lost or stolen devices, but it works just as well when your phone is with a repair tech.

Bonus: Perform a Backup and Reset

For full protection, especially if you’re trading in your device:

• Back up your data (iCloud or Finder)
• Erase all content and settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone)

You can then restore your data after the repair is complete.

How to Enable Repair Mode on an Android Phone

Some Android phones, like newer Samsung models, now include a dedicated Maintenance Mode. For other brands, there are manual ways to secure your device before repair.

Samsung Galaxy: Maintenance Mode

Available on devices running One UI 5.0+, this feature lets you block access to your personal data without logging out or wiping the phone.

To turn it on:

1. Open Settings > Battery and Device Care
2. Tap Maintenance Mode
3. Tap Turn On, then restart your phone

Once enabled, your phone reboots into a restricted profile:

• No access to your photos, accounts, or messages
• Only system apps are visible
• A log is created showing what was accessed during the session

When you get your phone back, simply unlock it and disable Maintenance Mode from the same settings menu.

Other Android Devices: Manual Options

If your device doesn’t support Maintenance Mode, here are smart workarounds:

• Create a Guest Profile
  • Go to Settings > System > Multiple Users
  • Enable the feature and switch to Guest
  • This creates a clean, limited-access environment with no access to your files or apps
  • Great for short- or long-term handoffs
• Screen Pinning
  • Found under Settings > Security > Screen Pinning
  • This lets you lock the phone to a specific app (like Settings or Notes)
  • To unpin, you need your PIN or unlock method
• Manually log out of sensitive apps
  • Especially banking, messaging, and cloud apps
• Temporarily disable biometric unlocking
  • Switching to PIN-only makes it harder for anyone to unlock the phone during repair without permission

While these options aren’t as seamless as a full repair mode, they’re effective and easy to reverse after the repair is complete.

Other Ways to Protect Your Phone During Repair

Even if your device doesn’t support repair mode directly, there are still ways to lock things down before handing it off.

Encrypt Your Device (Android)

Most Android phones are encrypted by default, but you can double-check under:

• Settings > Security > Encryption & Credentials

This ensures your data is scrambled and unreadable without your unlock method.

Turn Off Biometric Unlock

Disable Face ID or fingerprint access so your phone can only be opened with a strong passcode or PIN.

Use Find My Features

Both iPhone and Android allow you to:

• Remotely track your device
• Lock it down or erase it if something goes wrong during the repair
• See the last known location

Remove Auto-Sync Accounts Temporarily

Turn off syncing for cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud Photos while the phone is being repaired. This prevents updates or changes during service.

Troubleshooting Repair Mode Issues

If you’re having trouble enabling or disabling repair mode—or you’re not sure if it worked—here are a few things to try:

Repair Mode Doesn’t Activate

• Update your phone’s software—Maintenance Mode may not be available on older versions
• For Samsung, check the Galaxy Store for Device Care updates
• Try restarting your phone and re-accessing the setting

Forgot to Turn Off Repair Mode After Service

• Samsung users: just unlock your phone and return to Battery and Device Care > Maintenance Mode to disable it
• Apple users: turn off Lost Mode via iCloud.com

Worried About Data Access?

After the repair, take a few steps to verify that your data wasn’t accessed or altered:

• Check recent app activity to see what’s been opened
• Review login history in key apps like Google, Apple, or banking apps
• Change your passwords as a precaution (especially if you didn’t fully lock down the device)
• If something feels off, perform a factory reset and restore from a known clean backup

Even small precautions like these can make a big difference in long-term data protection. 

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Next Steps: Get Your Device Fully Prepped

Repair mode is just one layer of data protection. For full peace of mind, make sure your phone is backed up, wiped if needed, and ready for whatever’s next.

Now that your device is secured, explore the rest of our data protection series to make sure your transition—whether to repair or upgrade—is smooth and worry-free: