How to activate your iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection tool

With the amount of personal data stored inside smartphones, a stolen iPhone threatens more than just the cash forked over for the device itself. But, with iOS 17.3, Apple has added another layer of protection between the iPhone and sensitive data stored in places like Wallet, Apple Pay, and iCloud Keychain.

Dubbed Stolen Device Protection, the feature requires extra information, such as biometric authentication, before allowing access to sensitive data when your iPhone is in an unknown location. You are the first layer of security for your phone, and we advise you to shield your PIN when logging into your phone in a public place — but this new feature is designed to protect you further if your phone is stolen.

The Wall Street Journal reported a rise in iPhone thefts over the past year. Thieves wait for the user to enter their phone PIN, take note of the number combination, then steal the phone and lock the user out of their accounts. This prompted Apple to step in with a new feature to help users in this scenario. If you have an iPhone, you’ll want to enable this feature right now. Doing so will save future you a major headache.

Below is everything you need to know about iOS 17.3’s new Stolen Device Protection feature, including what it is, how it works and how to turn it on.

What is the iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection?

The Stolen Device Protection setting on iPhones is an optional security setting that introduces more steps when trying to access sensitive data in an unfamiliar location. When you are using your iPhone at home or work, nothing changes. But, if your iPhone is in a less frequent location, iOS will add additional steps to accessing data like payment information or Apple ID details. These extra steps fall under two categories: biometric authentication and security delay.

Stolen Device Protection requires Face ID or Touch ID when accessing payment information or changing certain device settings, like turning off Lost Mode or erasing all content. Again, this only applies when the iPhone is in an unfamiliar location, so nothing will change if you are shopping from the safety of your own couch. According to Apple, this applies to accessing financial data, as well as erasing data, including:

• Accessing Keychain passwords
• Using payment method autofill in Safari
• Filling out an application for a new Apple Card or viewing an existing Apple Card number
• Some Apple Cash and Savings settings inside Wallet
• Turning off Lost Mode
• Erasing all iPhone content and settings
• Setting up a new device with the existing iPhone

The Touch ID and Face ID requirements mean there won’t be a passcode override for those scenarios. But, the company notes that it doesn’t apply to paying for purchases with Apple Pay — which makes sense considering Apple Pay is used in physical stores.

The second way that Stolen Device Protection tries to preserve sensitive data is through a security delay. Apple says that with this setting on, critical security changes such as setting up a new Apple ID password will require biometric authentication, a one-hour delay, and then another biometric authentication.

Again, this only applies when using your iPhone away from your frequent locations like home or work. Apple notes that, if the iPhone returns to a familiar location during the security delay, the delay could end early.

The security delay is activated when changing these settings away from home:

• Apple ID: Changing your password, signing out, or updating account security settings
• iPhone security settings:
  • Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID
  • Changing the passcode
  • Turning off Stolen Device Settings or Find My
  • Resetting the iPhone

How to turn on Stolen Device Protection on iOS

To use Apple’s Stolen Device Protection, you’ll need iOS 17.3 or later. You’ll also need a device that has either Touch ID or Face ID enabled and the Significant Locations settings on. If you have both of those in place, turning on the added security takes just a few taps.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode.
3. Type in your passcode.
4. Scroll down to Stolen Device Protection and tap Turn On Protection.

How to turn on or view Significant Locations on an iPhone

The Stolen Device Protection requires using Significant Locations. This is a setting that uses your phone’s most frequented location to add features in Maps, Car Play, and other apps. Currently, you can’t customize this data — Significant Locations data is built over time based on your phone’s location. You can, however, view a summary of the data or clear the data, for example, if you move to a new house.

To access your Significant Location settings:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Tap Location Services.
4. Select System Services at the very bottom of the page.
5. Find and tap Significant Locations.

From this screen, you can turn Significant Locations on and off, see your home location, or clear out your existing data.

What happens if your iPhone is stolen?

The new Stolen Device Protection is another layer added to an existing suite of tools designed to prevent thieves from erasing your phone or stealing sensitive data. It joins a list of security options like Find My, along with the ability to remotely lock or erase a lost iPhone.

Apple’s Find My allows you to use an internet browser or another Apple device such as an iPad or Apple Watch to locate a missing device. If you find your iPhone wasn’t misplaced but was stolen, the Find My tool can also be used to mark your phone as lost. This allows you to not just lock your phone with a passcode, but also displays a custom message such as where to return the phone to if lost.

Apple will also allow you to change your Apple ID password using a web browser and remotely erase an iPhone or iPad. While a warranty won’t recover theft or loss, AppleCare+ With Theft and Loss includes theft protection.