Skip to main content

iOS 26.4 will activate key theft prevention feature on all iPhones

Avatar for Ryan Christoffel  | Feb 16 2026 - 11:52 am PT
5 Comments

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

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, according to MacRumors, 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 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.

Best iPhone accessories

Add 9to5Mac as a preferred source on Google Add 9to5Mac as a preferred source on Google

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Comments

Guides

iOS 26

iOS 26
iOS 26.4

iOS 26.4

Author

Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.