How to enable stolen device protection on iPhone

How does Stolen Device Protection work?

Normally, when an iPhone is stolen, the thief who knows the device password may delete the Apple ID or reset the device.

Device Protection enforces biometric authentication (such as Face ID or Touch ID) to perform sensitive operations such as accessing data stored in iCloud Keychain, disabling Lost Mode, factory reset, or on iPhone Set up new equipment. This security feature also prevents unauthorized access to financial data, such as autofilling payment methods saved in Safari, applying for a new Apple Card, and performing certain actions in Wallet, such as Apple Pay or transferring money.

With Stolen Device Protection, thieves cannot change phone settings via password. Successful biometric authentication is required to access protected settings. Doing this prevents thieves from reselling the phone for profit. While they may be able to disassemble the phone for parts, which is a shame, at least they can't trick someone into buying a stolen phone. That's why this feature is so important.

After enabling Stolen Device Protection, you need to wait an hour before making some changes. Apple calls these restrictions "security delays," and they apply when changing your Apple ID password, signing out of your Apple account, adding or removing a trusted device, recovering keys, or recovering contacts.

"Security Delay" also limits adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID, changing your iPhone passcode, and resetting all settings. You won't be able to turn off Find My Device or Stolen Device Protection while the security delay is in effect.

These restrictions don't apply when iPhone is in a trusted location (that is, a location where you regularly use your device). For example, your home, office, etc. When Important Locations is enabled in Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services, your iPhone learns about locations you are familiar with. Disabling or deleting important location history can also cause your phone to forget familiar locations.

For example, users will be required to provide successful biometric authentication when using their iPhone away from a familiar location. At this point the security delay begins, and an hour later, a second successful biometric authentication occurs.

Note: Stolen Device Protection is only available on iOS 17.3 or later. It is supported on iPhone XS and later.

How to Enable Stolen Device Protection on iPhone

1. Go to Settings.

2. Click Face ID and Password.

3. You need to enter the password of the device.

4. Switch stolen device protection.

What to do when you lose your iPhone

If your iPhone is lost, you should log in to Find My to mark it as lost immediately, you can do this from The web browser does this. This will disable most features in your phone. It also allows you to track the location of your device on a map, which you can provide to the police to help them recover your iPhone. Essentially, it uses nearby Apple devices to send pings to Apple's servers, much like how AirTags work. Learn more about using Find My to locate devices on the Apple website.

You can also use Lost Mode to display a message on your iPhone screen saying, for example, that this is your phone and you've lost it. You can also provide your phone number to help others contact you to return the device.

If you've lost your phone and received threatening messages from thieves claiming that your data, photos, and videos will be exposed on the Internet, don't be fooled unless you remove the device from your account. This is a common scam that uses scareware tactics to get you to remove your device from your Apple account, unlocking lost mode so thieves can sell it to someone else. Just ignore these messages.

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