Apple Working on iPhone Anti Snatching Feature That Locks the Device Automatically

The system is expected to rely on several signals to identify a snatching event, including the iPhone's accelerometer.

Marcus Reed·May 27, 2026·2 min read

Apple is developing a new iPhone security feature that automatically locks the device when it detects the iPhone has been snatched out of the user's hand, according to code seen by 9to5Mac.

The feature is intended to close a longstanding gap in Apple's anti theft protections, which can be largely defeated if a thief grabs an iPhone while it is already unlocked.

How the feature works

The system is expected to rely on several signals to identify a snatching event, including the iPhone's accelerometer. Once the device determines that it has been forcibly taken from the user, it will automatically lock.

The feature is said to also factor in the distance from a paired Apple Watch as a way to confirm that the iPhone has been separated from its owner.

Ties to Stolen Device Protection

Once enabled, the feature will reportedly apply the same situational rules used by Stolen Device Protection, Apple's existing layer of anti theft protections.

That means the iPhone will consider whether it is connected to a familiar WiFi network and whether it is at a familiar location, such as home or work. If those conditions suggest the device has been taken from its owner in an unfamiliar place, the iPhone will lock automatically and restrict access to the same sensitive areas that Stolen Device Protection already guards.

Following Android's lead

If it ships, the feature would mirror Android's Theft Detection Lock, which uses Google's machine learning models and sensor data to detect a snatch and lock the device on the spot.

Apple has steadily added anti theft layers to the iPhone over the years, including Find My, Activation Lock, and Stolen Device Protection. Stolen Device Protection, introduced in iOS 17.3, added time based security delays for sensitive Apple Account changes when the iPhone is away from familiar locations.

Release timing

It is not yet clear when Apple plans to announce the feature. 9to5Mac reports that the relevant code is under active development, but no public timeline has been attached to it.

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