Your iPhone Could Soon Automatically Lock if Someone Steals It

Apple is continuing work on an iPhone security feature that automatically locks your device if someone snatches it out of your hand.

According to 9to5Mac, new code in iOS 27.2 beta 2 reveals additional details about the unannounced feature, internally called “AutoLock.” An iPhone could look for several signals suggesting it has suddenly been stolen. These include sharp acceleration consistent with someone grabbing the phone, losing its connection to a paired Apple Watch, and remaining disconnected from that watch for a certain amount of time.

Prolonged loss of network connectivity and an iPhone remaining unlocked for an unusual period could also trigger a lock. Rather than relying on one event, Apple appears to be developing a voting system where multiple signals can request that the iPhone lock itself.

There are safeguards designed to stop your iPhone from constantly locking itself by mistake, too. Successful biometric authentication can override a potential lock, as can certain foreground app activity. The system can also consider whether you’re in a familiar location and temporarily back off after repeated automatic locks.

That location component sounds similar to Apple’s existing Stolen Device Protection, which adds security requirements for sensitive actions when an iPhone is away from familiar locations.

Apple hasn’t announced AutoLock, and the feature isn’t currently available for users to enable. While the underlying service is active in iOS 27.2 beta 2, 9to5Mac reports that the component responsible for actually locking the iPhone remains disabled. Apple may be using the beta to test how reliably the system recognizes potential theft without accidentally locking people’s phones.

The discovery comes as Apple continues testing iOS 27.2, which also introduces its redesigned Health app and expands Siri AI to additional languages. iOS 27 itself launched in Canada last week, bringing Apple’s latest round of security, privacy and Apple Intelligence features.

There’s no guarantee AutoLock will make the final iOS 27.2 release, but having an iPhone recognize that it just left your hand at speed could give thieves considerably less time to access an unlocked device.