If someone takes your iPhone, you might panic. Replacing an iPhone could cost over a thousand dollars, which is not fun, but if the culprit knows your passcode, they could access your messages, photos and other sensitive information. Enabling a feature called Stolen Device Protection can help alleviate some of the stress you might feel if this ever happens to you.

Apple introduced Stolen Device Protection when the company released iOS 17.3 in January 2024. The feature aims to protect your data if your phone is stolen or falls into nefarious hands. 

“Stolen Device Protection adds a layer of security when your iPhone is away from familiar locations, such as home or work, and helps protect your accounts and personal information in case your iPhone is ever stolen,” Apple wrote online.

Here’s how to enable Stolen Device Protection and what to know about the new security feature.

Read more: How to Make Your iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection More Effective

How to turn Stolen Device Protection on

Here’s how to enable this security feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode — you might have to enter your passcode.
3. Tap Stolen Device Protection.
4. Tap the toggle next to Stolen Device Protection to enable the feature.

Read more: How to Give Stolen Device Protection a Boost

What to know about Stolen Device Protection

As CNET’s David Lumb reports, Stolen Device Protection requires you to enter your biometric information at least once to access some of your sensitive settings and information when you’re not in a familiar location, like your home.

Here are some of the things Apple said you’ll need to enter your biometric information for in order to change or access when you’re in an unfamiliar location:

• Using passwords or passkeys saved in your Keychain.
• Using payment methods saved in Safari that autofill.
• Turning off Lost Mode.
• Erasing all content and settings on your iPhone.
• Applying for a new Apple Card.
• Viewing your Apple Card’s virtual number.
• Taking certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in your Wallet, like initiating a transfer.
• Using your iPhone to set up a new device.

The feature also uses a new mechanism called Security Delay when changing some settings. If you try to change these settings when away from a familiar location, Stolen Device Protection will require you to enter your biometric info twice: once initially and then again after an hour. According to Apple, if you arrive at a familiar location while waiting for the Security Delay to end, your device could prematurely end the delay. 

Here are some of the things Apple said are protected by Security Delay:

• Turning Stolen Device Protection off.
• Changing your Apple ID password.
• Signing out of your Apple ID.
• Updating your Apple ID account security settings, like adding or removing trusted devices.
• Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID information.
• Changing your iPhone passcode.
• Resetting all your iPhone’s settings.
• Turning Find My off.

You can also choose to always require Security Delay, even when you’re in a familiar location. That way if your iPhone goes missing in the building you live in or another location your iPhone recognizes as a familiar, you’ll still have this layer of protection. Here’s how to always enable Security Delay.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode — you might have to enter your passcode.
3. Tap Stolen Device Protection.
4. Tap the toggle next to Stolen Device Protection to enable the feature if you haven’t.
5. Tap Always under Require Security Delay.

Because Stolen Device Protection only protects a handful of settings, you still have to take steps to protect your other information. For example, Apple notes that you can still use your iPhone passcode to make purchases with Apple Pay, so Stolen Device Protection won’t totally protect your finances. While Stolen Device Protection is an optional feature and doesn’t protect everything on your phone, Apple still recommends everyone turn it on.

For more iOS news, here’s all the features included in iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4. You can also check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet and what we hope to see in iOS 19.