Monday February 16, 2026 10:59 am PST by Juli CloverStarting with iOS 26.4, Stolen Device Protection will be enabled by default and turned on for all iPhone users. Stolen Device Protection adds extra security in case of physical iPhone theft.
Apple implemented Stolen Device Protection back in 2023 after reports about a new iPhone theft method. Thieves would spy on an intended victim to learn their passcode, then steal the target's iPhone. With the passcode, criminals were able to empty bank accounts, access passwords, and turn off Find My.
Stolen Device Protection requires additional authentication through Face ID or Touch ID to access certain iPhone features like the Passwords app, Lost mode in Find My, Safari purchases, and more. Some features are disabled entirely without authentication, while others have a one-hour security delay.
Actions requiring Face ID or Touch ID to complete:
Viewing/using passwords or passkeys saved in iCloud Keychain
