While iOS 18.1 repairs bugs and adds some new capabilities to your iPhone, such as call recording, Apple launched iOS 17.3 in January, which included a new security feature. Stolen Device Protection is a feature designed to safeguard your data in the event that your phone is stolen or ends up in the wrong hands.

Apple claims that in the event that your iPhone is stolen, Stolen Device Protection can assist safeguard your accounts and private data. Although it is an optional feature, Apple advises that everyone activate it.

Tech Advice
Learn about the new security feature and how to activate Stolen Device Protection.

See also: Increasing the Effectiveness of Your iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection

How to activate protection for stolen devices

Your iPhone should ask you if you wish to activate Stolen Device Protection when you update it. Here’s how to activate the security feature if you missed this screen or intended to do it later.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Passcode & Face ID.
3. Select Protection for Stolen Devices.
4. To activate the feature, tap the toggle next to Stolen Device Protection.

See also: Increasing the Security of Stolen Devices

Important Information on Protecting Stolen Devices
The padlock-shaped Apple logo overlayed on top of an iPhone’s Settings menu
Your iPhone is made more secure with Stolen Device Protection.
Getty Images/NurPhoto/Jaap Arriens
When you’re not in a familiar place, like your home, Stolen Device Protection asks you to enter your biometric information at least once in order to access certain of your sensitive settings and information, as CNET’s David Lumb explains.

Apple stated that in order to modify or gain access when you’re in a new place, you’ll need to input your biometric information for the following reasons:

using passkeys or passwords that are stored in your keychain.
utilizing autofill payment methods that are stored in Safari.
Disabling Lost Mode.
deleting all of your iPhone’s data and settings.
submitting a fresh Apple Card application.
seeing the virtual number on your Apple Card.
making a transfer or doing other specific Apple Cash and Savings actions in your wallet.
setting up a new device with your iPhone.
When adjusting certain settings, the feature also makes use of a novel mechanism known as Security Delay. Stolen Device Protection will ask you to input your biometric information twice if you attempt to modify these settings while in an unknown place: once at first and again an hour later. Apple claims that your device may terminate the Security Delay early if you arrive in a familiar location while you’re waiting for it to end.

Apple stated that Security Delay protects the following items:

Disabling the protection for stolen devices.
Changing the password for your Apple ID.
using your Apple ID to sign out.
modifying the security settings for your Apple ID account, such as adding or deleting trusted devices.
modifying or deleting Touch ID or Face ID data.
Changing the passcode on your iPhone.
deleting every setting on your iPhone.
Disabling Find My.
A smartphone bearing the Apple Pay logo
If you have Stolen Device Protection enabled, you can still use Apple Pay to make transactions.
Budrul Chukrut/Getty Images/SOPA/LightRocket
You must still take precautions to safeguard your other data because Stolen Device Protection only shields a small number of settings. For instance, according to Apple, you can still use your iPhone password to make Apple Pay purchases, so your finances won’t be completely protected by stolen device protection. Apple advises everyone to activate Stolen Device Protection even though it is an optional function that does not fully protect your phone.

For additional iOS news, check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet, my iOS 18 review, and what you need to know about iOS 18.1. You may also see what iOS 18.2 might bring to your iPhone in the near future.