Enable Your iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection

As of 2024, there were about 155 million iPhone users in the United States, and approximately 1 million smartphones are stolen yearly.

While specific data on iPhone thefts alone isn’t always available, iPhones are among the most commonly targeted devices due to their high value and popularity.

So, whether you have a new iPhone or an older model, activating Stolen Device Protection can limit what thieves can access.

If a thief steals your iPhone, panic can set in immediately. Beyond the cost of replacing the phone, you might worry about them accessing your messages, photos, and sensitive information. While it’s distressing to have your smartphone stolen, turning on Apple’s Stolen Device Protection can immediately cut thieves’ access to your data. This feature is not automatically enabled and needs to be activated beforehand.

First released as part of iOS 17.3, Stolen Device Protection adds an extra layer of security to your smartphone whenever the device is somewhere you don’t regularly visit. Here’s a quick guide to what the feature does and how to turn it on.

What Does Stolen Device Protection Do?

The feature is designed for situations where a criminal not only takes your iPhone but also knows your passcode. When they take your phone to a location you don’t frequently visit, the Stolen Device Protection security measures kick in.

The main feature is that it requires your Face ID biometrics to access sensitive features on the phone, such as Keychain passwords, stored payment information in Safari, and disabling Lost Mode. Even if the thieves know your passcode, it will no longer work as a backup option; Face ID becomes required for full access. This also prevents thieves from easily wiping all your data off the phone, as that process requires Face ID as well.

In addition to forcing biometric authentication, Stolen Device Protection adds a security delay period for changes to phone safety features. If the thief wants to sign out of your Apple ID or turn off Find My iPhone, they can’t just hold up the phone in front of your face for a few seconds. With the feature’s automatic security delay, you have to wait an hour to make significant safety changes to the device and confirm your biometrics at the beginning and end of this process.

How Do I Turn It On?

Before you can turn on Stolen Device Protection, you must set up a few other basic features on your smartphone. You probably already have Face ID and a passcode enabled on your Apple device—both are necessary for the feature to work.

Next, check whether two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled for your Apple ID. This is a good idea even if you aren’t using Stolen Device Protection. Check by going to Settings, tapping on your name at the top, and then choosing the Sign-In & Security tab. You should see whether 2FA for your Apple ID is on or off in the middle of this screen.

The last software feature you need to activate on the iPhone is Significant Locations. This keeps track of places you regularly visit, so your phone can detect whether it’s in a familiar or unfamiliar place. According to Apple, the data is end-to-end encrypted and is not read by the company. Find it by opening Settings, then Privacy & Security, and Location Services. Scroll down until you see the System Services tab. Select Significant Locations, and you’ll likely be prompted to unlock it with Face ID. On the next page, move the toggle to the right to enable the feature.

Now you’re ready to start using Stolen Device Protection. After all of that prep work, the last step is easy. Open Settings one more time, then Face ID & Passcode, and enter your passcode. Scroll about halfway down the page, choose the Stolen Device Protection tab, and move the toggle to the right.

Thanks to Wired Magazine for this heads up.