The Stolen Device Protection feature can help stop a thief from taking over your iPhone
- Viewing/using passwords or passkeys saved in iCloud Keychain
- Applying for a new Apple Card
- Viewing an Apple Card virtual card
- Turning off Lost Mode
- Erasing all content and settings
- Taking certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet
- Using payment methods saved in Safari
- Using your iPhone to set up a new device
These are the more sensitive tasks that not only require Face ID or Touch ID verification, they also require an hour to pass before any change can be made:
- Changing your Apple ID password
- Updating select Apple ID account security settings, including adding or removing a trusted device, trusted phone number, Recovery Key, or Recovery Contact
- Changing your iPhone passcode
- Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID
- Turning off Find My
- Turning off Stolen Device Protection
In iOS 17.4, you’ll be able to have the Stolen Device Protection feature enabled everywhere
After releasing iOS 17.3 with the feature, Apple gave some more thought to Stolen Device Protection and decided that users should have the option to allow the feature to work anywhere. With iOS 17.4, which is coming early next month, users will be able to choose between having the feature enabled at all unfamiliar locations, or enabled “Always.”
If you’ve installed the iOS 17.4 public beta, here’s how to have Stolen Device Protection working everywhere
Once you install iOS 17.4, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and use your Passcode to log in. Tap the listing for Stolen Device Protection and you’ll be able to enable the feature with the toggle at the top of the screen, and choose between having it work at all unfamiliar locations, or “Always.” If you don’t want the feature at all, keep the toggle at the top of the screen off. Note that the UI for Stolen Device Protection changes between iOS 17.3 and iOS 17.4.
Next, go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap on Beta Updates iOS 17 Public Beta. Keep in mind that beta releases are considered unstable and if you count on a specific app to work at all times, there is always the chance that it might not be available. Unless you have installed an iOS beta before, let me repeat that you are probably better off waiting for the final version of iOS 17.4 to be released.
