Stolen Device Protection in iOS 26 adds a layer of security when your iPhone is away from familiar locations, such as home or work, and helps protect your accounts and personal information in case your iPhone is ever stolen.
To turn on Stolen Device Protection, you must use two-factor authentication for your Apple Account and set up or enable the following on your iPhone: a device passcode; Face ID or Touch ID; and Significant Locations (Location Services).
You also need to have Find My turned on, and you can’t turn it off while Stolen Device Protection is enabled.
Stolen Device Protection might be turned on by default. If it’s not, you can turn the feature on in Settings:
° Go to Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode.
° Enter your device passcode.
° Tap Stolen Device Protection, then turn Stolen Device Protection on or off.
When you restore from iCloud Backup or transfer directly from a previous iPhone to a new one, your device settings — including Stolen Device Protection — are also restored. The Stolen Device Protection security measures automatically resume on your new iPhone, although there may be a delay before your device recognizes familiar locations.
Always require additional security measures
By default, the additional security measures of Stolen Device Protection are required only when your iPhone is away from familiar locations.
If you’d like your iPhone to enforce the additional Stolen Device Protection security measures regardless of its location, you can adjust your settings.
Go to Settings, tap Face ID (or Touch ID) & Passcode. Then tap Stolen Device Protection and choose “Always” under Require Security Delay.
When you choose this option, updates to certain security settings always require a delay and actions that require biometric authentication always require Face ID or Touch ID (with no passcode alternative), even if you’re in a familiar location like home or work.
If you try to turn off Stolen Device Protection when you’re not in a familiar location, a security delay starts before you can turn it off. You should turn off Stolen Device Protection before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone.
This info is from Apple’s Support webpage.
