Learn · iPhone & iPad

Turn on Stolen Device Protection

3 min · essential

Why this matters. A common theft trick: watch someone type their passcode, steal the phone, then use the passcode to change the Apple Account password and lock the owner out. Stolen Device Protection requires your face or fingerprint (not just the passcode) for sensitive changes when the phone is away from familiar places, and adds a one-hour delay for the most sensitive ones.

Switch it on

Settings, then Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, then tap Stolen Device Protection and turn it on. It needs iOS 17.3 or later, Face ID or Touch ID, and Find My switched on.

9:41▂▄▆ ◔

‹ Face ID & Passcode

Stolen Device Protection

Requires Face ID for some actions when away from familiar locations.

Illustration. Your screen may look a little different.

It may already be on. Newer iPhones can turn it on by default.

Check your understanding

What does Stolen Device Protection add?

Face ID or Touch ID for sensitive changes away from home, plus a one-hour wait for the riskiest ones.

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Checked against: Apple: About Stolen Device Protection for iPhone · last reviewed 2026-09