Apple appears to be still working on a new security feature that could automatically lock an iPhone if it detects that someone has snatched it from its owner’s hand.
References to the feature have been found in the latest iOS 27.2 beta, suggesting Apple hasn’t abandoned the idea. Internally, the feature is reportedly called “AutoLock” and would use a combination of the iPhone’s sensors and connected devices to work out whether a theft has taken place.
The system could look for a sudden burst of acceleration that matches the phone being grabbed, but that’s only one part of the detection process. It could also check whether a paired Apple Watch has suddenly become unreachable, whether its connection has been lost, whether the iPhone has been without a network connection for an extended period, or whether the phone has remained unlocked for too long.
Apple also appears to be building in safeguards to avoid locking your phone when nothing has actually happened. Code references suggest successful biometric authentication, familiar locations and certain foreground app activity can be used to override a potential theft signal.
Interestingly, the system reportedly uses a kind of voting mechanism. A possible snatch event can request that the iPhone locks, while other signals can effectively veto that request if they suggest the owner is still in control of the device.
If the theft detection is confirmed, the iPhone would lock and activate Stolen Device Protection. That existing security feature adds extra protection when you’re away from familiar locations such as home or work, including requiring biometric authentication to access saved passwords and credit cards. It can also impose hour-long delays on sensitive actions such as changing your Apple Account password.
Apple wouldn’t be the first to offer this kind of protection. Android already has Theft Detection Lock, which can automatically lock a phone when it detects a snatch-and-grab situation.
There’s still no guarantee that Apple’s AutoLock feature will actually make it into a public iOS release. However, the references in iOS 27.2 indicate that the company is continuing to develop the feature, even if it’s currently being worked on behind the scenes.
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