YOUR iPhone has a special setting that can protect you from phone-snatchers who have seen your passcode.
It’s designed to hinder thieves who wait to see you unlock your iPhone before nabbing it.
The feature is called Stolen Device Protection, and it only takes a few seconds to turn on.
Apple explains: “You can use Stolen Device Protection to protect against the rare instance when someone has stolen your iPhone and knows your passcode.
“Stolen Device Protection prevents the person from performing critical device and Apple Account operations (like changing your device passcode or Apple Account password).
“It does this by requiring biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID. There is no passcode to fall back on.”
HOW DOES IPHONE STOLEN DEVICE PROTECTION WORK
Stolen Device Protection is location-based.
So it’s designed to work when you’re away from familiar locations like your home and work.
It means that if someone steals your device while you’re out and about after seeing your passcode, they can’t make “critical” changes.
So accessing your stored passwords and credit cards will require Face ID or Touch ID. There’s no option to use a passcode instead.
And there’s also a Security Delay feature.
So if you want to change your Apple Account passcode, you’ll have to wait an hour and then perform a second Face ID or Touch ID scan.
This is to stop people from stealing your phone, unlocking it with your face, then running off and changing the passcode.
They’d need to stay with you for an entire hour to be able to reset your Apple Account password.
Apple says: “In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure.”
None of these changes will be in effect if you’re at home or work.
However, you can set it up so that Stolen Device Protection is always active no matter where you are.
HOW TO USE STOLEN DEVICE PROTECTION ON IPHONE
First make sure that you’ve updated your iPhone by going into Settings > General > Software Update.
You’ll also need to make sure that you’ve got four settings set up.
First you need two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple Account.
FULL PROTECTION!
Here's what you can and cannot do with passcodes while Stolen Device Protection is active...
If Stolen Device Protection is turned on, you’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID to do any of the following:
- Use passwords or passkeys saved in Keychain
- Use payment methods saved in Safari (AutoFill)
- Turn off Lost Mode
- Erase all content and settings
- Apply for a new Apple Card
- View your Apple Card or Apple Cash virtual card number
- Take certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet (for example, Apple Cash or Savings transfers)
- Use your iPhone to set up a new device (for example, Quick Start)
You’ll also experience the Security Delay for any of the following actions:
- Change your Apple Account password
- Sign out of your Apple Account
- Update Apple Account security settings (such as adding or removing a trusted device, Recovery Key, or Recovery Contact)
- Add or remove Face ID or Touch ID
- Change your iPhone passcode
- Reset All Settings
- Enroll in Mobile Device Management
- Turn off Stolen Device Protection
Then you need to make sure that you’ve got an iPhone passcode as well as Face ID or Touch ID.
Third, make sure that you’ve got Significant Locations switched on in the Location Services part of your Settings.
And fourth, ensure that you’ve got Find My turned on.
You can’t turn this setting off if you want to use Stolen Device Protection.
Once that’s all sorted, go into Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and turn Stolen Device Protection on.
From there, you can also choose to require a security delay always – or only when you’re away from familiar locations.