Government Orders Cyber Safety App Pre-Installed on All Smartphones; 90-Day Compliance Window for Companies, Apple Faces Challenges

The Indian government has issued a major directive to smartphone manufacturers, mandating that every new phone sold in the country must come pre-installed with the government’s cyber safety app, Sanchar Saathi. Users will not be able to uninstall or disable this app.

This move comes amid rising concerns over cyber fraud, stolen phones, and fraudulent IMEI numbers. In October alone, the app helped recover 50,000 stolen or lost phones, and since January 2025, more than 700,000 devices have been traced and returned.

90-Day Deadline for Smartphone Companies

According to Reuters, companies including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi have been given 90 days to ensure all new devices come preloaded with Sanchar Saathi. Devices already in supply chains will receive the app via software updates. The order has not been made public yet and has been shared privately with select companies.

Apple’s Biggest Challenge

India is the world’s largest phone market, with over 1.2 billion subscribers. Apple faces a significant challenge because its internal policy does not allow pre-installation of government or third-party apps before selling devices. Counterpoint reports that as of mid-2025, Apple’s share in India was about 4.5%, while the majority of devices run on Android.

How Sanchar Saathi Helps Users Track Lost Phones

If your phone is lost or stolen, you can use the Sanchar Saathi app or website to:

1. Block a stolen or lost device.

2. Enter phone details like IMEI number, brand, model, and contact number.

3. Provide the location of loss and police complaint number.

4. Upload personal ID documents such as Aadhaar or PAN.

5. Submit the request.

6. If the phone is recovered, it can be unblocked on the portal using the request ID and contact details.

Government’s Rationale

The government states that fake or duplicate IMEI numbers pose a serious threat to telecom cybersecurity. The IMEI is crucial for network blocking, tracking, and blacklisting stolen devices.

Features of Sanchar Saathi App

The app provides users with three key services:

1. IMEI verification for smartphones.

2. Block stolen or lost phones to prevent misuse.

3. Report suspicious calls.

Since its launch, the app has been downloaded over 5 million times, helped block 3.7 million lost or stolen devices, and shut down over 30 million fraudulent connections. The government claims the app plays a significant role in preventing cyber fraud, recovering stolen phones, and curbing black-market trade of fake devices.