Take that, iPhone thieves! iOS 17.4 will make Stolen Device Protection even better

The best iOS 17.3 feature is getting a key improvement

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

It’s been just over a week since Stolen Device Protection debuted withiOS 17.3, butiOS 17.4will reportedly bring further improvements to the brand new security feature.

Stolen Device Protection essentially acts as a last line of defense against iPhone thieves in possession of your passcode. When activated, your iPhone will require Face ID or Touch ID authentication for sensitive actions like viewing passkeys, erasing content, turning off Lost Mode, and so on. For especially sensitive actions – like changing yourAppleID password or disabling Find My iPhone – Stolen Device Protection requires two instances of biometric authentication; the second coming one hour after the first.

Previously – or rather, currently –  only one instance of biometric authentication is required when you perform a sensitive action at a ‘familiar location’, such as home or work. However, according to9to5Mac, iOS 17.4 will give you the option to enable two-step authentication all the time, regardless of your location.

In other words, you’ll soon be able to lock your iPhone into a single state of security; a thief won’t find it any easier to break into your iPhone by obtaining it at a ‘familiar location’. Of course, for convenience, you’ll still have the option to drop that aforementioned two-step requirement down to one if you prefer.

It’s worth noting that Stolen Device Protection isn’t enabled automatically, so read our guide onhow to set up Stolen Device Protection on your iPhoneif you haven’t already activated the new feature. Still stuck on iOS 16? We’ve got a guide onhow to download iOS 17, too.

As for theother features set to be introduced with iOS 17.4, we’re hearing thatthird-party app stores will soon be allowed on iPhone, as well as true third-party browsers (currently, third-party browsers are little more than reskinned versions ofSafari). These changes are expected to arrive with iOS 17.4 in European regions, owing to new EU regulations.

Globally, iOS 17.4 will also reportedly allow game streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now to exist as dedicated apps. Right now, the only way to access these services on an iPhone is through a browser, so iOS 17.4 should turn thebest iPhonesinto even better gaming phones.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

Podcast transcripts, new emojis, and new language options for Siri are among the other upgrades we’re expecting to see introduced with iOS 17.4, which is tipped to launch in early March.

You might also like

Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. 

Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.

I’ve used Genmoji and now I’m convinced Apple Intelligence will be a huge success

iOS 18.2 could add Battery Intelligence to your iPhone, letting you know how long it will take to charge

New fanless cooling technology enhances energy efficiency for AI workloads by achieving a 90% reduction in cooling power consumption