iOS 26.4 will automatically turn on strict security feature for all iPhones

iOS 26.4 is coming very soon as the next big iPhone update, and Apple plans to enable a key security feature by default in the release.

Stolen Device Protection will be on by default in iOS 26.4

In early 2024, Apple launched a new iOS feature called Stolen Device Protection.

The theft prevention feature was optional for users, as it came with additional restrictions that might prove inconvenient for the average person.

But in iOS 26.4, Apple will turn Stolen Device Protection on by default for all users.

From Apple’s support document explaining the security feature:

With Stolen Device Protection, some features and actions have additional security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations such as home or work. These requirements help prevent someone who has stolen your iPhone and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device.

• Face ID or Touch ID biometric authentication: Some actions such as accessing stored passwords and credit cards require a biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID — with no passcode alternative or fallback — so that only you can access these features. 
• Security Delay: Some security actions such as changing your Apple Account password also require you to wait an hour and then perform an additional Face ID or Touch ID authentication.

Like with most security features, there are trade-offs. But it seems that Apple’s opinion of the trade-offs with Stolen Device Protection has changed over time.

With iOS 17.3, it made the feature entirely opt-in, so most users probably never tried it. Now with iOS 26.4, users will have it enabled automatically—though still with the option of manually disabling it later.

Do you use Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone now, or will you start with iOS 26.4? Let us know in the comments.

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