How To Use iPhone Stolen Device Protection

macmost.com/e-3092 Stolen Device Protection is a way to protect you and your iPhone if someone steals it and knows your passcode. It is available in iOS 17.3 which came out this week.
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00:00 Intro
00:28 What It Protects You Against
01:22 How It Protects Your and Your iPhone
02:27 Minimizing Inconvenience Using Significant Locations
03:06 Requirements
05:04 Details Of How It Protects You and Your iPhone
06:44 How the One Hour Delay Works
07:27 Not Perfect Security, But Better
#macmost #iphone

[@harrytheone1954]

Gary your videos are so useful and informative. Thank you so much. Harry

[@peterstubbs9558]

Thank you Gary

[@Nutwigg1]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you so much.

[@ats8742]

Thanks Gary

[@KimMunday]

Another great video. Thank you so much Gary.

[@scoot77777]

Nicely Done! Thank you 🎉

[@johnconstable8512]

ty g

[@billbuckleytutorials]

excellent as always !

[@thevideoark]

Love your videos and waffle. Please consider locking your cameras exposure value to prevent the video going lite and dark with tour movements. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@juliemadeleinebiong8268]

Such a good and easy explanation! Thank you ☺

[@evangelinewandering9547]

And not to forget - please use the alphanumeric option when setting the passcode for your phone, not just a 4 or 6 digit pin code. Not only is a (long/longish) alphanumeric code more difficult to guess, but it also strengthens the encryption on your phone. Whatever options for security Apple implements in the os, it does not help if we don’t use it. 😊

[@MisterKN]

Thanks Gary, I have noticed that you can't selectively turn of a specific location (such as a Cafe I frequent) from the Significant locations list. A cafe is exactly a place where I want maximum protection so its interesting that you can't unselect a significant location.

[@macmost]

Right. Unlikely though that someone will steal your iPhone in an elaborate theft and then happen to go to the same cafe as you.

[@DanOehlsen]

However, a number of Significant Locations are displayed on a map in the app. So a thief can go to one of those locations and bypass the security.@@macmost

[@Javster]

This man is the man!

[@cjc363636]

The most concise breakdown of the new security feature. Thanks Gary!

[@danielgartin-oh9ik]

I’ve been using it since the beta, I got my first iPhone a few months ago

[@moistmansion6927]

I understand that most thieves just want to reset your phone to sell it & don't care much about personal data but the extra hour one might have to lock your account from another device is great. The "herd immunity" effect makes perfect sense now and should hopefully lower the overall likelihood of iphones being stolen in general as they become more of a hassle and less worth the risk. Great video. Very informative. Thank you!

[@sundaynightdrunk]

Apple jumped on this quick after it became a news story that people could steal iPhones and immediately change the iCloud password. Glad to see them build in this extra layer of security.

[@c_martin9]

Another requirement Apple doesn't mention is that if you have a Screentime Privacy Restriction set up, such as "not enabling change of passcode" then you have to go in and turn that off. Screentime restriction like this was a mitigation (crude work-around when the WSJ video of the woman who lost all her phone/photos) that if someone stole your passcode, they still couldn't change it, unless they also had your Screentime passcode. Once you back out of this specific Restriction, then you will see "Face ID and Passcode." Otherwise, you will search and search for "Face ID and Passcode" and never find it.

[@azam78620]

Agree i can't fine Face ID because i blocked my account

[@w.f1001]

That option may also be very helpful to prevent any changes in your account and I may not need to activate stolen device

[@loopba]

Thanks, another great example of how the system menus have become less logical and iOS makes no sense over time

[@vividcitypro]

A great tutorial on a great feature! I'm surprised it's off by default though. Do you think it will be enabled by default on new iPhones?

[@macmost]

I think they are reluctant to make it default because there are people who will not understand it and get confused by what is going on. Maybe in a year or two after they see how it goes.

[@JamieWardHD]

The Screen Time method is still better imo. Allows you lock and unlock your iCloud settings instantly. No waiting an hour like this new method.

[@livefreevinnie]

I just turn the Stolen Device Protection. Also, I changed Do Not Allow passcode changing under screen time.

[@digitalharsha4584]

It it available in 17.4

[@MrDsalomon]

Hi Gary, Thanks for another clear video. It is very useful. At 3:12 you have the list of requirements and they include (1) iOS 17 and (2) Face ID or Touch ID. As far as I know, Touch ID is available only on old iPhones, up to model 8, but iOS 17 can only run on XR, XS, and newer models. Requirement 2 should therefore be just "Face ID" Please correct if I'm wrong. Also, each of your videos refers to the latest iOS at the time of recording, so it would help if you give us the iOS version for each video. Thanks again

[@macmost]

The current iPhone SE (3rd gen) is Touch ID.

[@davep6603]

Thanks Gary for taking the time to not only explain the ins and outs of this security update, but to make it interesting as well!

[@PizzaJet1984]

This feature was not communicated well by Apple, but it WAS communicated excellent by Gary. Thanks for a great video. That being said, I probably will not turn this feature on. I wish the user was able to customize levels of security better than how Apple requires it. seems more inconvenient than it’s worth.

[@ea9849]

What did Apple leave out? Gary got everything from the Apple documentation. Just like you can. All Gary did is read the content and make a video about it so illiterate people like you can listen to it rather than read.

[@notscot6788]

Gary, you are a rock star. This post is just one example of a clear explanation of something new, but it's why I recommend your site/channel to my Apple friends. It's the best I have seen on this genre, and maybe the best I have seen on any topic. You have a gift, friend. Thanks for sharing it. I am a small Patreon supporter, but as long as I own Apple hardware I'll be a reliable supporter. You have saved me hundreds of hours of explanations to my "pro-bono clients". Top drawer, buddy. Thanks.

[@macmost]

Thanks for your kind words and support!

[@BreakTime10101]

Gary, I’m still confused by the 1 hour delay thing, can you please explain this a little better? Can a bad guy do things within that hour or after the hour is up? And what are the holes? Thanks

[@macmost]

The things on that list cannot be done until they use Face ID/Touch ID a second time after an hour delay.

[@loisskiathitis8926]

Avery useful and informative video tutorial today! Thank you, Gary!👏🏻❤️

[@alohakeithb]

Very helpful, Gary. Is there a way to view my significant locations? When I look under privacy it says I have 270 records, but only shows me a map of one. Is there a way to view the other significant locations? I’m wondering if I should delete them to clear it out.

[@macmost]

No. You can sometimes see the last few on a map.

[@georgee3401]

The best clarification of this important feature I’ve seen . Many thanks!

[@californiadreaming567]

I don’t have Stolen Device Protection.Mine goes from Attention Aware Features to turn Passcode off, Change passcode, require passcode. I see I have to update

[@earllandry5594]

This seems to only work if you have internet at home.

[@macsprotte1436]

Would that mean, that I would be delayed as well when I am doing critical changes on my iPhone while being on a holiday trip?!

[@macmost]

Yes. Hopefully you don't need to do "critical changes" while on a trip. You can still do them, it just takes an hour with the delay.

[@rappere11]

Love your videos always learn something. Thank you! So if you were on vacation in another country and were in air plane mode with wifi turned on to avoid roaming charges. So you were just using wifi would you still be able to use 2FA to use stolen device protection? Thanks

[@macmost]

Yes, you would still keep 2FA on.

[@rappere11]

@@macmost thank you how would I respond to 2FA through wifi? My 2FA accounts all require a text to be sent. Would I still get that text with only wifi on?

[@macmost]

@@rappere11 It does depend on the type of 2FA. That "second factor" can be a lot of things. If it is from a code generator, you don't need any connection to anything at all. If it is from Apple's system, then the codes go directly to the system and you can have any type of connection. But if something you are using is sending codes via SMS mobile phone messaging, then that won't work unless you have a mobile connection. If you have something like that, check to see how else you can get your second factor. For instance, often there is a "try another way" button where the code can be sent via email.

[@rappere11]

@@macmost As always thank you very much for both helpful answers but also so quick. best robert

[@meeluanistyn1644]

I think it’s a great feature and I set it as soon as I’d updated iOS. Security is important for me.

[@chezchezchezchez]

OK when I go to significant locations, I see my work there, but I do not see Home. I don’t see any way to force adding the home location. How the heck do we do that? Thank you so much.

[@macmost]

You can't force it. It has to recognize it from your behavior.

[@Chocolate_2K07]

If I put on Always mode in Require Security Delay does it work?

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean. Does turning that mode on always require the delay? Yes. Why wouldn't it?

[@abrzz94]

turned on the face protection now it doesn’t recognise the face at all and cant turn it off because it’s still not recognising face!!

[@ouriel]

What do you use for screenshot recording and finger follow?

[@macmost]

ScreenFlow for recording. For the red circle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2aVdYCYrsh5naM

[@ouriel]

very cool@@macmost i was trying with apple trackpad but could not make it work. very cool otherwise. the only limitation is that the "mouse" is always on and i was looking for a way to show it only when you touch the screen. thanks anyways

[@StevieW-Steve]

Thanks Gary, a very clear and precise description which totally makes sense.

[@Digitaldroid4681]

What does one hour security delay even do? 7:00 please tell me.

[@macmost]

When you try to access one of the things on that list, you authenticate with Face ID. Then you have to wait another hour and use Face ID again to get access.

[@livesouthernable]

My question is how will this affect purchasing a new device? Say, you forget to turn off this setting before heading to the store to buy a new phone. When you get there, I guess there would be an hour delay to switch info to the new phone?

[@macmost]

Yes, if you do the transfer at the store instead of just at home. Apple already sends out messages reminding you to turn off Find My before service appointments so I expect you'll get reminders to turn off Stolen Device Protection if you plan to do a trade-in.

[@LiliBcreation]

Sadly enough, I'm home and I want to disconnect myself from my icloud to reconnect again, it doesn't recognize my house as a safe place , got to wait 59 min :(

[@kevinhawkins82]

My spouse has my iPhone sometimes. How will setting Stolen Device Protection effect them using the iPhone. I do not have them set up for face ID, they just use the passcode.

[@tomn8907]

Do some testing with your spouse and report back.

[@macmost]

Do they need to do anything on that list while using your iPhone? Probably not. Check those lists.

[@chezchezchezchez]

Of course, when you go to settings and search and you type in “ two factor identification” no results come up. Then, when I go to Face ID and passcode settings… I see nothing about two factor authentication. So where the heck are we supposed to find this setting to turn on?

[@macmost]

It is for your Apple ID. Choose the first item (your Apple ID) in Settings, then Sign-In and Security.

[@jeryzifield4090]

How do you enable stolen protection on iPhone 12 Pro Max?

[@macmost]

Same way. As long as you have iOS 17.3 it doesn't matter which model.

[@jeryzifield4090]

@@macmost I talked to Apple Support, they told me it is common to miss the faceID & passcode in this upgrade. They suggested to wait till the next upgrade to fix it.

[@CandanceOnline]

Don’t use your phone in crowded spaces and areas where people can steal your phone go into an empty space or area to use your phone.

[@yrtracingteam106]

5:35 i’m wondering what will happen if face or touch id stops working? I use face id and at one point in time it stopped and i had to put in a new scan. So, what would happen then?

[@macmost]

I think you just go to one of your significant locations (home, work, etc) and then turn stolen device protection using your passcode.

[@yrtracingteam106]

@@macmost could be the solution 👍🏼

[@iantripp3030]

What happens after the 1-hour delay if phone isn't in a familiar place? Does it just force the 1-hour delay again? I hope so. If the next action is anything short of repeating the requirement continuously, then the bad actors just need patience.

[@macmost]

After one hour you can complete the task as long as you can do Touch/Face ID again. The idea is if someone scams you into using Touch/Face ID, then takes your phone, they can't do those actions listed. The wait an hour and then are stuck. But you just authenticate and perform the action.

[@iantripp3030]

@@macmost appreciate that. But I'm more interested in what happens if they have the phone and the passcode, are forced to wait 1 hour but I'm nowhere for them to be find me ... what happens to the phone after they've waited an hour? I'm hoping the answer is that until I recover the phone, they can't do a thing. I just don't want to have to find a means to get into icloud to log in and disable the phone in just an hour (eg,., if I'm traveling, I might have no ability to do anything for a day or more). Thoughts?

[@macmost]

@@iantripp3030 After the hour they have to use Touch/Face ID to complete that task. Since they aren't you, they can't so they are stuck.

[@chris92673RN]

Thank you! You explained this better than several other YT videos I watched.

[@billx4266]

I dont enable this security feature. I am always using face id, i NEVER hand my phone to anyone. I have a difficult alpha numeric password, and i NEVER put that code in when im in a public place. My face id works always, never had problems with it. So, if you are cautious like me, i dont think anyone can get into my phone.... And IF i have to use the code, i wait till im alone. Just as simple as that. Good luck anyone if my phone is stolen....

[@mr88cet]

I’m the same, but I’ll turn it on anyway. May as well… In the extremely rare cases when I have no choice but to type in my crazy-complicated passcode in public, I * first look around for shoulders surfers, then * hold the phone right up against my chest (to where *_even I_* can barely see it!), and * I twirl around in place as I type it. That way a shoulder surfer would have to literally walk around behind me to see it (which I would probably hear).

[@MyDogSteppedOnaBeee]

Thanks Gary in 17.4 beta 1 there is a toggle for require security delay: keep it on always or away from familiar locations.

[@giorgos7six]

If the Apple ID and Credit Card numbers are never stored as autofill, do I still have a reason to worry?

[@macmost]

That's only one thing it protects. There is a whole list, including taking over your Apple ID account, taking over ownership of the iPhone, etc.

[@giorgos7six]

You mean that by deleting the Autofill, only the CcardNo and the AppleID can be protected? Also can this dangerous issue happen to iOS 15 or earlier?

[@macmost]

@@giorgos7six Huh? Sorry, I don't understand that you mean. When you turn on Stolen Device Protection you are protected in a lot of different ways. If you have an old version of iOS then someone with your iPhone and your iPhone's passcode can get into it just like you can. So make sure that doesn't happen.

[@giorgos7six]

I have an 6S+ do you believe that upgrading to iOS 17 might make my iPhone run slower?

[@asbestosflake5749]

You can still get access to your passwords on iPhone if the thief has your passcode. After 3 failed Face ID attempts it asks for passcode 🤔

[@domdomdomme1203]

The significant locations seem to be so random and unreliable though, I checked mine and it literally said I have 327 significant locations. Some of them are places I’ve just visited once for an hour at most. I really hope we will be able to manually select and edit those in the future.

[@macmost]

Yes, but it still doesn't really help a thief. They can't just hope they happen to, by chance, be in one of your significant locations after they rob you. This is a deterrent, not a state-secret-level security measure.

[@mrmcgoo39]

9:08 it would be nice if we could select which locations we deem significant since we don’t know what kind of algorithm they’re using and never list a significant location to to disable this if we have never hooked up to that locations Wi-Fi

[@macmost]

@@mrmcgoo39 The idea is for this to be a simple on-off switch for anyone to be able to use easily. If you think someone is targeting you specifically enough that they will be tracking your movements and taking notes, then you need much more serious security than this.

[@StephenEhrlichPhotos]

This Video is very helpful. Just days after Apple provides this update, you have provided us the instructions, in a clear and easy to understand tutorial. Thanks Gary !

[@drinternatg6391]

Doesn’t work on iPhone 8

[@macmost]

You can't get iOS 17.3 on the iPhone 8. This requires iOS 17.3.

[@Zpehu]

For safety reason i will not turn on Significant location (A Thief could easily find out my Address and come close to my Home). Does that mean that i will loose access for ever to my iPhone if the Face-ID Camera has a failure?

[@macmost]

So if a thief has your iPhone and your passcode, with this OFF they can break into it anywhere. With this ON, they can only break into it if they are at your house. How is the first even remotely better? Plus, it is so much more risky for a thief to be going to your home. They want low risk, not high risk. And it takes time, which gives you a chance to mark it lost. If Face ID fails for some reason, I believe you then just go home (or work, etc) and turn this off with your passcode.

[@Zpehu]

Thank you very much for your answer, i appreciate your support. I just turned on Significant locations for the first time. There is no entry yet, but I hope that my iPhone will find my Home location within a couple of days (and nights). Best regards from Switzerland

[@cruisebaer]

@@macmost You said: So if a thief has your iPhone and your passcode, with this OFF they can break into it anywhere. Are you sure? I don't think so. I have set stolen device protection on and significant location off. Because: Let's say, if i'm working in a public place (let's say restaurant) or hanging out regularly in a certain bar, apple could probably accept it as a "significant place". So if a thief grabs my iphone out of my pocket (and knows the code) and i didn't notice it immediately, he can turn around and takes control of my apple id immediately because of this "significant place" in the public. He doesn't need to go to my "home" (or wherever apple thinks my home is ...) No thanks. I don't want to let apple decide what is a safe place (and especially without letting me know, what places are considered as safe !). I've deactivated it.

[@macmost]

@@cruisebaer When I said "with this OFF" the "this" is Stolen Device Protection (not Significant Locations). While a thief in a spy movie may do what you suggest, in real life that's a signifiant risk to stay in the same location like that. The idea behind security measures like this is decrease the likelihood of theft while not hampering use of your iPhone. If you are so concerned about this kind of theft, then just do what was possible before: switch to a real password (letters and numbers, 8+ characters, random) for the iPhone and try to never use anything by Face ID when in public. That will provide much better protection.

[@cruisebaer]

@@macmost I just read on 9to5mac, that with IOS 17.4 beta, apple added the option to choose for the "Require Security Delay" between "Away from Familiar Locations" and "Always". Apple got my point 👍

[@ouriel]

do you think Stolen Device protection works if your phone number gets sim swapped and your apple ID reset remotely?

[@macmost]

If your Apple ID has been stolen, then you have already lost the most valuable things that this will protect.

[@ouriel]

yeah @@macmost . when you get sim swap your Apple ID can be reset and everything with it (icloud). so my take is that this is not a good protection against sim swap. it also does not protect the iPad and the mac....which can be attacked from there

[@macmost]

@@ouriel Not sure what you are getting at here. A lock on your front door doesn't protect you from someone breaking a window. So should you just not use the lock on your front door?

[@ouriel]

@@macmost sim swap is fairly popular vector attack in the USA. I was trying to understand if this protection was useful for this case

[@macmost]

@@ouriel No. If you are afraid of this kind of attack, don't use 2FA tied to mobile messaging.

[@Sergesouszero]

Maybe I'm missing something, but unless you share your passcode with someone, and given the fact that everyone's using Touch ID or Face ID 100% of the time (I guess), I fail to see how the passcode can be stolen. Anyways, thanks Gary fort this concise and very clear explanation!

[@mavic2175]

There was a story I read somewhere, can’t remember, but if you are in a public place, someone might keep an eye on you while you type the passcode, then that someone steals your phone and guess what, he memorized your passcode… he now would have the way to check anybofvyourcdtired passcodes, check your wallet, credit card info, and could change your applied password so you would have no way to enter your Apple account to check your iPhone location and follow. Etc. can’t erase the contents either. So I think Apple is trying to protect its consumers.

[@Sergesouszero]

@@mavic2175 I don't think I've explained myself well. As far as I'm concerned, the only times I have to enter my passcode on the iPhone are the following: when opening the device after turning it off completely, during an iOS update, if I need to change said passcode and when iOS randomly asks me to type it in (about once a week). I'd have to be the unluckiest person in the world if any of these situations were to occur if I'm not at home and someone, at that very moment, is hiding behind me, trying to see (and steal) my code. Hence my question: why use a passcode when you can already use Touch ID or Face ID?

[@MrLuigi-oi7gm]

@@mavic2175This is exactly correct. ✅

[@macmost]

@Sergesouszero you are right, except that you probably don't realize a lot of people use a passcode anyway. They shouldn't. It is much more secure to stick only to Face/Touch ID. The situation where a security-minded person like yourself will get a phone stolen with the passcode is rare. But not so for many others. You'd probably be shocked to know that there are still people that use NO passcode on their phones.

[@Sergesouszero]

@@macmost I guess you're right. But I still find it hard to understand why tools like Touch ID or Face ID, which are simpler to use and much more secure, are simply ignored. Even more so at a time when the means of committing fraud are multiplying and becoming ever more sophisticated. The subject is certainly worth studying.

[@dylanwhite6539]

Note that this will make replacing your screen more difficult as you must have find my iPhone disabled to replace the screen with another Apple screen.

[@bjs2022]

Not complete on iPhone 15 Pro Max. Your tutorial on the stolen phone function is different on mine (17.3). It does not have System Services to set up the location. And, no Significant Locations. Are you still using your Beta version?

[@uncletrick1]

Mine does.

[@macmost]

No, this is the released version. Not sure why you aren't seeing things. Do you have ScreenTime restrictions on maybe? Are you sure you are scrolling all the way down?

[@Mr.Jean-Paul]

@@macmostYou are right Gary. I would bet that screentime restrictions are on. And many thanks for this great explanation. I just wondering how iPhone identifies significant locations and if there is a possibility to give them a name 🤷🏼‍♂️.

[@macmost]

@@Mr.Jean-Paul You definitely can't name them. It is supposed to be a completely behind-the-scenes thing, not something you can customize. I think the "how" will always be a little bit secret since now it is a security issue.

[@Mr.Jean-Paul]

@@macmost Thank you so much for your answer. Hopefully iPhone identifies at least my home location correctly 🙏.

[@cheezit58]

Finally someone who explained this feature in more detail. Thumb Up from me

[@claudiumionescu]

What if the thief knows your home address and actually goes there with the stolen iPhone to make the necessary changes?

[@macmost]

That's pretty risky for a thief to do. The idea is to make it too risky for a thief to rob you, right? So what's your response to that "flaw?" Not use Stolen Device Protection at all?

[@claudiumionescu]

@@macmost Just use biometrics every time you’re accessing/changing sensitive stuff.

[@tr3vorb438]

Turning off Significant Locations is good if you live in a high crime area!

[@macmost]

Unless the crime is in your home and your workplace/school it wouldn't make a difference. Even then, the idea is that a thief doing this kind of crime would likely be leaving the location immediately after the theft.

[@tr3vorb438]

@@macmost I setup an automation that will prevent any app from opening when I'm not on my preferred home network. I use face ID, do not enter my pass-code to unlock.

[@blindship5792]

I am the one who called apple 2 months ago to yell at them reclaiming more protection for this ver situation asking this very feature! i see they heard me!