You may not be able to find the setting – as you need to have a certain iOS the expert warns
If you use an iPhone, it’s a good idea to enable one important setting – and the sooner, the better. A phone expert has issued a fresh warning amid the launch of the latest iPhone, noting that in just the first half of 2025, an estimated 44,000 phones were stolen across the UK, affecting users of all types of devices.
This surge in thefts has raised increasing concerns about how to keep phones as secure as possible if they’re stolen – especially with the recent launch of the iPhone 17. To help fight the issue, Darren Corney, phone expert at Insurance2Go, said that there’s a security feature that can help reduce the risk.
Stolen Device Protection is a security feature available on iPhones running iOS 17.3 or later. It adds an extra layer of protection by requiring biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID) for sensitive actions and introduces a security delay when your device is in an unfamiliar location.
The expert explained: “The feature triggers a security alert when your phone is in a location it doesn’t recognise, so it starts requiring your Face ID to access certain features on the phone. When this feature is enabled, you’ll need Face or Touch ID to access Keychain passwords, stored payment information, and even to disable Lost Mode.
“Your phone will turn off the option to use your passcode as a backup. So even if the thief knows your password, they won’t be able to unlock or access sensitive information.”
This isn’t the only positive about the feature with Darren explaining that the setting adds a delay when trying to change any security features on the phone. This means that you “can’t change your password or turn off ‘Find My iPhone’ instantly, you must wait an hour” and “these changes will all require Biometric confirmation too.”
This means that if your phone is stolen, it becomes much harder for a thief to erase your data, making it more difficult for them to resell the device. To activate the feature, Darren recommends ensuring Face ID and a passcode are enabled, and that two-factor authentication is turned on for your Apple ID.
The final step in the setup is to ensure that ‘Significant Locations’ is enabled in your settings. This allows your phone to track frequently visited places, helping it recognise unfamiliar locations. Once this is turned on, simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
Darren concluded by urging people to activate these features, meaning even if your phone is stolen, your data is safe. He said: “It is recommended that everyone turn on this feature if they can.
“You can’t do much to stop your phone being snatched out of your hand other than being aware of your surroundings and keeping your phone safely zipped in a bag or front pocket, but you can minimise the impact of having your phone stolen by implementing as many barriers as possible for the thief. Features like these make it harder for thieves to get hold and exploit any sensitive information once they have your phone.”