Windows Phone Anti-Theft “Reset Protection” Restricts Factory Resets & Flashing New ROM

Recommended: PC Repair - Easy Way to Repair your PC Issues.

When a phone gets lost, it is almost impossible to track it using any of the software option available through phone makers. Those who steal the phone are smart enough to know that first thing that needs to be done is a reset. Microsoft wants to change this such that if anybody wants to use such phone will be locked out completely. This feature needs to be enabled by OEM for consumers to use it.

Windows Phone OEM

Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 Update has a “Reset Protection” feature which restricts anybody to perform a reset on the phone, or even flash a new Rom to the device to use it. Along with this is a another feature called as Anti-rollback protection which restricts anybody to install an earlier version of the phone OS.

Reset Protection consists of the following parts:

  • Reset and reactivation protection – The stolen device cannot be reused by resetting or flashing the device. When a user performs a factory reset on the device, they will be asked to enter the Microsoft Account credentials that are associated with that device. Additionally, if the device is flashed with a new image and Reset Protection is turned on, the Microsoft Account credentials that were associated with that device is required to finish OOBE and use the device.
  • Anti-rollback protection – If Reset Protection is enabled, the stolen device cannot be flashed to an earlier version of the operating system that did not support Reset Protection.

If at all one wants to reset the phone, without a Microsoft account, only OEM will be able to do that. They will need a recovery key for that device which in turn needs IMEI code.

Source WP OEM Documentsvia NPU

Ashish Mohta
A die-hard fan of Windows, PC Gaming, and Xbox. He is a seasoned content writer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is a specialist in writing about Windows, software reviews, troubleshooting Windows, and automation.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.