The first developer beta of iOS 26.4 rolls out, marking an important safety switch for buyers. A security feature that was previously optional is now enabled by default for everyone, making it harder for thieves to change your iPhone’s important settings.
We’re talking about Stolen Device Protection (first released with iOS 17.3), the feature designed to protect your Apple ID, saved passwords, payment methods and other sensitive information, even if someone knows your iPhone’s passcode.
Changing important security settings requires more than just a passcode
The feature requires more credentials than your iPhone’s passcode (such as Face ID or Touch ID) for actions such as viewing or using passwords or passkeys stored in iCloud, viewing an existing Apple Card or requesting a new card, turning off Lost Mode, and deleting all content and settings.
Additionally, the feature also delays changing important security settings such as Apple ID password, adding or removing trusted devices, changing iPhone passcode, and adding/removing Face ID or Touch ID by an hour.
Biometric authentication is also required, followed by a one-hour security delay and a second biometric confirmation before changes can be made.
Why this is important
By enabling Stolen Device Protection in iOS 26.4, Apple is essentially making it harder for criminals to exploit the critical information stored on your phone or reset it and sell it for a quick buck.
In other words, your iPhone will be more paranoid than usual even when you’re using it, but it’s better to have the feature and not need it than to need it and realize you haven’t turned it on (which is the whole point of making it a non-optional feature).
Elsewhere, the iOS 26.4 developer beta also includes encrypted RCS messaging support, native video support in Apple Podcasts and a new Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music. A full public release of iOS 26.4 is expected this spring.
