New Stolen Device Protection Features

It’s better to be safe than sorry, which is why Apple is making Stolen Device Protection even better than before.

Introduced in iOS 17.3, Stolen Device Protection is an optional feature that improves security by requiring Face ID or Touch ID to be used before key security information can be changed, such as your passcode, Apple ID password, or Find My settings.

Now, to give you an extra layer of protection, Stolen Device Protection has the option to enforce a one-hour “security delay” when you try to change critical settings such as your passwords before those changes take effect.

In iOS 17.3, this delay would only be required when you tried to make those changes away from a “trusted” location such as your home or workplace. However, iOS 17.4 lets you enforce it no matter what.

That way, even if somebody at your workplace manages to point your iPhone at your face to unlock it before running away with it, they’ll have to wait before they can change your security settings, giving you a chance to wipe your iPhone remotely or recover it.