Overview
- Late May 2026 code reviewed by 9to5Mac shows Apple is actively developing an anti‑snatching auto‑lock that detects when an iPhone is yanked from a user and then secures the device.
- Reports say the system will use multiple on‑device signals — the iPhone’s accelerometer and gyroscope, distance from a paired Apple Watch, and checks for familiar Wi‑Fi or known locations — to avoid locking after ordinary drops or movements.
- If a snatch is confirmed, the phone would lock immediately and apply Stolen Device Protection limits that block access to saved passwords, restrict Apple ID and device changes, and require biometric or passcode checks for sensitive actions.
- Full protection depends on users meeting Stolen Device Protection prerequisites such as two‑factor authentication for the Apple ID, an active Find My setting, and a passcode or biometric setup, and Apple has not announced when the feature will ship.
- The move mirrors Google’s Theft Detection Lock on Android and could cut casual thief access in the first seconds after a theft, though experts caution that advanced tools can still defeat locks and owners should act quickly to kill SIMs and secure accounts after a theft.