As the subject line says... my phone always wants a password to unlock it first thing in the morning, even if it didn't restart during the night due to "Device care>Automation>Auto restart at set times" being enabled. That's not bad I suppose, but it does break with my expectation that if I see that message in the morning, I expect that it's because my phone restarted itself during the night. Meanwhile, my phone's uptime is currently sitting at 53 hours and counting as of this writing.
Alternatively, could this be because "Strong Protection" is enabled in the "Data Protection" section under "Biometrics and security>Other security settings"? Either way, though, the message and requirement to enter a password following a restart is misleading when the phone didn't restart. 😐
The behavior you are describing is likely due to Strong Protection being enabled in the "Data Protection" settings under Biometrics and Security.
Disable Strong Protection: Go to Settings > Biometrics and security > Other security settings > Data Protection. Turn Strong Protection off. This should stop the phone from requiring a password after periods of inactivity unless it actually restarts.
You can also Adjust Auto Restart Settings: If you suspect Auto Restart is sometimes triggering unexpectedly, go to Settings > Battery and device care > Automation > Auto restart at set times and:
Ensure the restart time aligns with your usage schedule. Disable it if you prefer manual restarts.
If your phone contains sensitive information, Strong Protection adds an extra layer of security by encrypting data when the phone isn't used for long periods.
