Apple Still Working on Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Stolen iPhones
Apple is actively developing an anti-snatching feature for iPhones that automatically locks the device if it is forcibly taken from the owner's hand. The system utilizes a combination of motion sensors and paired Apple Watch connectivity to detect theft attempts while incorporating safeguards to prevent false positives. Although the feature is not yet available to the public, code found in the iOS 27.2 beta confirms that Apple continues to work on this security enhancement.
- ▪The feature, internally named AutoLock, uses gyroscope and accelerometer data to detect sharp acceleration consistent with a snatch.
- ▪It relies on a paired Apple Watch to monitor proximity and connectivity, triggering a lock if the watch becomes unreachable or loses connection.
- ▪A voting system is employed where theft signals request a lock, but safeguards like biometric authentication or familiar locations can veto the action.
- ▪Upon successful detection, the iPhone locks and activates Stolen Device Protection to restrict access to sensitive data and account changes.
- ▪Android already offers a similar Theft Detection Lock feature, though the release timeline for Apple's equivalent remains unclear.
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Apple Still Working on Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Stolen iPhonesTuesday September 22, 2026 4:44 am PDT by Tim HardwickNew references in the latest iOS 27.2 beta show that Apple continues to develop a new feature which will lock your iPhone if it's snatched from your hand by a thief. As previously reported, the feature will use the gyroscope, accelerometer, and other sensors to determine when an iPhone has been grabbed. It'll also rely on a paired Apple Watch to detect when the iPhone has suddenly moved away from the owner's wrist. According to new code seen by 9to5Mac, the feature is called "AutoLock" internally, and it can use several different methods to determine whether an iPhone has been snatched from its owner: A sharp acceleration consistent with the phone being snatched.
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