Turn On iPhone Stolen Device Protection

Some thieves watch people type their iPhone passcode, then steal the phone and use the passcode to take over the Apple Account. Stolen Device Protection blocks that by requiring Face ID or Touch ID for sensitive changes when you are away from home or work.

1. Open the setting

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) and enter your passcode.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode

2. Turn it on

Scroll to Stolen Device Protection and turn it on. It needs iOS 17.3 or later, two-factor authentication on your Apple Account, and Find My turned on.

Stolen Device Protection: On

3. What changes away from familiar places

Viewing saved passwords, turning off Lost Mode or using saved payment cards in Safari needs Face ID or Touch ID, with no passcode fallback.

4. The one-hour security delay

Big changes, like changing your Apple Account password, changing the iPhone passcode or turning off Find My, need Face ID or Touch ID, then a one-hour wait, then Face ID or Touch ID again. A thief who knows your passcode cannot do it quickly.

FAQ

Will this slow me down at home?

No. At familiar locations like home or work the extra steps are skipped, unless you set it to apply everywhere.

What if Face ID fails while I'm away from home?

You cannot fall back to the passcode for protected actions. Wait until you are back at a familiar location or try Face ID again.