Stolen Device Protection on iPhone: How It Works

Stops a thief who watched you type your passcode. This page explains what it does, how to use it on an iPhone and which carriers it applies to.

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What is Stolen Device Protection?

Stolen Device Protection closes the gap that a stolen iPhone plus a shoulder-surfed passcode used to open. Available on iOS 17.3 or later, it adds requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations like home or work.

Two mechanisms. Some actions demand Face ID or Touch ID with no passcode fallback at all — using saved passwords and passkeys, Safari AutoFill payment methods, turning off Lost Mode, erasing all content and settings, viewing your Apple Card number, using the iPhone to set up a new device, and setting up or transferring an eSIM. Others add a one-hour security delay followed by a second biometric check: changing your Apple Account password, signing out, altering account security settings, adding or removing Face ID, changing the passcode, and turning Stolen Device Protection itself off.

It must be on before the phone is lost. Turning it on requires two-factor authentication on your Apple Account, a device passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, Significant Locations enabled, and Find My on — and you cannot turn Find My off while it is enabled. You can set Require Security Delay to Always if you would rather not rely on the familiar-locations logic.

Important: Turn Stolen Device Protection off before you sell, trade in or give away the iPhone, or the new owner will hit the security delay.

How do I do it?

1. Confirm two-factor authentication is on for your Apple Account.
2. Turn on Find My, a device passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, and Significant Locations.
3. Go to Settings, then Face ID and Passcode, and enter your passcode.
4. Tap Stolen Device Protection and turn it on.
5. Optionally set Require Security Delay to Always so it applies everywhere.

Which carriers does this apply to?

Published for	any iPhone
Type	iOS setting
Good to know	iOS 17.3 or later. It may already be on by default; it protects nothing if enabled after the phone is gone.

Related security and scam reporting

• Turn Off Email-To-Text On Verizon
• Mark A Lost iPhone As Lost
• Report A Call To T-Mobile Scam Shield
• Activation Lock
• Report Unwanted Calls To AT&T
• Apple Account Two-Factor Authentication

See all security and scam reporting or every category of iPhone codes.

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