Turn on Stolen Device Protection right away!

If you haven't heard, there have been some really terrifying iPhone thefts recently where a thief will watch you enter your iPhone passcode in public then snatch your iPhone and run. Knowing your iPhone passcode, within minutes they can reset your Apple ID password, view saved passwords, remove your device from Find My, transfer money out of your checking accounts, and more. While it's questionable how widespread these thefts are, they do happen. This is why I absolutely always recommend using Touch ID or Face ID, and if you do have to enter your passcode in public make sure you do so discreetly.

In response to these thefts, Apple added Stolen Device Protection in today's iOS 17.3 update. But you must choose to turn the feature on. I recommend nearly everyone update and turn it on right away. The only people who shouldn't are those who find Touch ID or Face ID to be very unreliable.

What Stolen Device Protection does

Using GPS, your iPhone knows where you spend most of your time. While you are in these frequent locations (work or home for example) your iPhone will behave normally. But if you leave those locations, Stolen Device Protection becomes vigilant and will not allow you to use your passcode for most things. If you need to access certain parts of your iPhone, you must use Touch ID or Face ID. This limits the damage a thief can do with your passcode.

These are the features that you cannot access without Touch ID or Face ID:

• 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 Apple Card 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)

There are also exceptionally sensitive parts of the iPhone that have a time delay. To access any of these, you will authenticate with Touch ID or Face ID, then again an hour later.

• Change your Apple ID password
• Sign out of your Apple ID
• Update Apple ID 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
• Turn off Find My 
• Turn off Stolen Device Protection

How to enable Stolen Device Protection

Of course, you will need to update to iOS 17.3 first. Go to the Settings app > General > Software Update. Then go to the Settings app > Touch ID & Passcode / Face ID & Passcode. Scroll down and tap Turn on Protection

If available, I also recommend enabling Face ID with a Mask and Unlock with Apple Watch. Both of these features increase the chances of Face ID working for you. Even if you never wear a face mask, you may find yourself in a hospital where a mask is required or you might wear a scarf because it's cold. There is no downside to turning this feature on.

Additionally, under Allow Access When Locked I recommend disabling Today View and Search, Control Center, Reply with Message, Return Missed Calls, and Accessories.

How to disable Stolen Device Protection

If you find that Touch ID or Face ID are just too unrelaible for this to be a good option, you can disable it in Settings > Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode. If you are at a familiar location your iPhone should allow you to do that easily. If you are not you will have to deal with the one-hour delay. Just be sure you are very careful when entering your passcode in public.

What to do if your iPhone is stolen

Apple has a full article detailing what to do when your iPhone is lost or stolen. If your iPhone has been stolen and especially if you suspect the thief knows the passcode to your phone, you should act quickly. Look at the details at the end of that article. The most important thing to do right away is to erase your iPhone using Find My. You can do that with:

• Another Apple device on your account such as an iPad or Mac using the Find My app
• Another family member's Apple device if using iCloud Family Sharing using the Find My app
• A friend's Apple device using the Find My app and your Apple ID and password
• Any computer's web browser at icloud.com. Sign in using your Apple ID and password, then when it tries to do the two-factor authentication, ignore that and click Find Devices at the bottom of that screen.