If your iPhone was stolen and a thief knew your passcode, they could potentially change your Apple ID password, wipe your device, and lock you out.
That’s exactly the scenario Apple designed Stolen Device Protection to prevent – and from iOS 26.4 onwards (aka the next iPhone update), it’ll be automatically switched on for everyone.
Spotted in the developer beta by MacRumors, Apple is enabling Stolen Device Protection by default, rather than requiring users to turn it on manually in the settings. It’s a small change on paper, but it could be a meaningful one if your trusty iPhone is ever lost or stolen.
Apple originally introduced the feature in 2023 after reports of a new theft method where criminals would watch someone enter their passcode before stealing the device. With both the phone and the code in hand, thieves could access saved passwords, interfere with banking apps, reset Apple ID credentials, and even disable Find My. In other words, the damage went beyond the cost of the handset, adding extra insult to injury.
What does Apple’s Stolen Device Protection do?
Stolen Device Protection adds an extra biometric layer on top of your passcode for sensitive actions. Even if someone knows your code, they’d still need to use Face ID or Touch ID to access saved passwords, view or use iCloud Keychain entries, turn off Lost Mode, and erase all content and settings. They’d also need it to apply for a new Apple Card, view a virtual Apple Card number, use saved payment methods in Safari, or use your iPhone to set up a new device.
For certain high-risk changes – like altering your Apple ID password, updating trusted devices or recovery contacts, changing your passcode, removing Face ID or Touch ID, or disabling Find My – the system introduces a one-hour security delay and requires biometric authentication twice.
The idea is simple but effective – even if someone peeks your passcode in a coffee shop or on a train, they can’t immediately take over your digital life.
Until now, Stolen Device Protection had to be manually enabled in the Face ID and Passcode section of the settings, and many users never switched it on. With iOS 26.4, Apple is making that protection the default, rather than the exception.
For now, iOS 26.4 is currently available only in the developer beta, with a public beta expected soon and a wider iPhone update release planned for the spring. When it does land, this won’t be the flashiest feature – but it’s one you’ll definitely be thankful for should the worst happen.
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