Do you lose sleep over the thief having full access to all your personal data on your stolen iPhone? Of course, you can try your best to locate your lost or stolen iPhone, but remember, that’s not the goal—the goal is to make sure the thief cannot get your iCloud data, your bank accounts, your Apple ID, etc. Before that, you can turn on Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone.
But none of these questions answers the following one: What is the Stolen Device Protection feature on iPhone, and how do I turn it on? Here is what you should know.
What does an iPhone’s stolen device protection entail? Why should you allow it, too?
One of the most significant risks that accompanied stolen iPhones was that if the thief somehow found out the device’s passcode, I was easily able to alter its iCloud settings, passwords, saved payment information, as well as my own Apple account password.
If the thief enters your Apple account by changing its password, he or she will have access to all your data saved in iCloud.
Apple did not feel its users needed any more precaution for these actions, which, in retrospect, was a big mistake. Stolen Device Protection fills this gap by providing an extra measure to protect our devices.
With this feature activated, you must unlock your device using Face ID or Touch ID to review saved Wi-Fi networks, iCloud settings, or banking offers. You cannot access this data using your iPhone passcode or any other alternative method.
Other features of Stolen Device Protection include a one-hour lockdown of your device after a theft report to prevent anyone from performing restricted actions such as changing your Apple ID password, turning off Find My, enrolling /unlinking Face ID, and many others.
You also have to verify your identity twice by entering the phone’s passcode, and then using Face ID or Touch ID.
Apple says this delay will help you report your iPhone lost in Find My before the thief resets your device and changes your Apple ID password and other personal data.
You can use this feature all the time or only when you are always in unfamiliar territory. The latter is a list of locations associated with using the iPhone, including home and workplace.
What can be referred to as the negatives of getting Stolen Device Protection? The only downside—if you can call it that—is that should Face ID or Touch ID stop working on your iPhone, you will not be able to handle passwords or make changes to Apple ID.
Texting and calling other iPhones will continue to operate, but features with the lock icon will require your iPhone to be repaired or wait an hour for suspension of Stolen Device Protection before they can be unlocked.
Tips on Enabling Stolen Device Protection of Your iPhone
Stolen Device protection cannot be enabled without having iOS 17 – ensure this before enabling the feature. Then follow the following procedures;. Here’s how:
- Enter the Settings app on your iPhone and select ‘Face ID & Passcode’.
- Enter your device passcode.
- Interestingly, tap on Stolen Device Protection.
- Security -> Stolen Device Protection on an iPhone
- Select whether you would prefer this feature to be active all the time.
- Set the Security Delay in the Stolen Device Protection capability
And that’s about it, You are now protected by Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone.
Avoiding Your Data from Being Interfered by Other People
Worst of all, nothing is more painful than having all your personal information fall into the wrong hands of a stranger. That can be prevented from happening by activating Stolen Device Protection on iPhone and following the above-outlined procedures.
Thankfully, this is not the only form of security that the iPhone designers have incorporated into the gadget. Here are some advanced settings you can switch on your iPhone to improve its security: parental control and two-factor authentication (2FA).
Does the iPhone have protection for the stolen devices?
Yes, Stolen Device Protection is available on iPhones operating iOS 17. 3 or later. To find out your iOS, launch the Settings app, click General, and then Software Update.
How can I Track and block a stolen Apple-equipped device?
To block a stolen Apple device, click on iCloud and enter your login details. Then, click on Find My. In the menu on your left, choose the stolen Apple device and click on the Mark As Lost option.
This will help lock the device. If a stranger picks it up, he or she will only open it by passing through the passcode, Face ID, or fingerprint.
Can a stolen Apple product be located?
Yes, stolen Apple products can be tracked, but there are a few conditions that must be fulfilled. First, Find My has to be activated on the lost Apple gadget.
Second, the product must be in an on-state. However, if both conditions are met, you can use Find My to track your stolen Apple product by signing in to the iCloud account.
