8 iPhone Security Settings You Should Enable Right Now

Even if you’ve been using an iPhone for years, chances are your phone isn’t as secure as you think.
And the worst part? These security settings are already built into your iPhone — but they’re turned off by default.

In this guide, I’ll show you eight essential settings you should enable right now to protect your personal data, Apple account, and privacy.

These settings work with iOS 18, iOS 26, and most recent iPhone models.

1. Send Last Location When Battery Is Low

When your battery dies, your iPhone stops sharing its location — meaning you can’t find it through Find My iPhone.
Fortunately, there’s an option that makes your phone send its last known location automatically before powering off.

How to enable it:

1. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Find My iPhone

2. Turn on Send Last Location

This simple feature can make the difference between recovering your iPhone or losing it for good.

2. Require Permission for Wired Accessories (USB)

Did you know that charging your iPhone on a public USB port could expose your data?
Hackers use a trick called “juice jacking” to steal data or install malware through infected charging stations.

Protect yourself:

1. Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Wired Accessories

2. Choose Ask for New Accessories

This forces your iPhone to display a trust alert every time it’s connected to a new USB device, blocking data transfer until you approve it.

3. Block Access to Data from the Lock Screen

Your iPhone might be locked, but not really.
By default, several features can still be accessed without a passcode or Face ID.

Disable the following:

Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Allow Access When Locked and turn off:

• Control Center

• Siri

• Reply with Message

• Wallet

• Home Control

• Today View & Search

This prevents anyone from disabling Wi-Fi, activating airplane mode, or snooping through your widgets and notifications.

4. Enable Stolen Device Protection and Set Security Delay to “Always”

If someone sees you enter your passcode, they could hijack your Apple ID and lock you out of your phone.
The Stolen Device Protection setting prevents that.

How to enable:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Stolen Device Protection

2. Turn it on

3. Under Security Delay, select Always

Now, any critical change (like resetting your Apple ID password) will require Face ID and an automatic delay before approval, making it useless to thieves.

5. Require Attention for Face ID

By default, Face ID unlocks your iPhone as soon as it recognizes your face — even if you’re asleep or not looking.

How to fix it:

1. Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode

2. Enable Require Attention for Face ID

This ensures your iPhone only unlocks if your eyes are open and you’re looking directly at the screen.
No eye contact, no access.

6. Lock or Hide Apps with Face ID

Starting with iOS 18, Apple lets you lock or hide any app using Face ID — without third-party software.

Here’s how:

1. Long-press on the app icon

2. Tap Require Face ID (or Hide and Require Face ID)

Your app will now be invisible or locked until you authenticate with your face.
Perfect for banking apps, private photos, or sensitive messages.

7. Advanced iCloud Encryption (Advanced Data Protection)

By default, Apple retains access to certain iCloud data for recovery purposes.
If you want complete end-to-end encryption, this feature is for you.

To enable it:

1. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Advanced Data Protection

2. Turn it on

3. Set up a recovery key and a trusted contact

Be careful — if you lose your recovery key and access to your devices, not even Apple can help you regain your data.
Store your key in a safe location.

8. Guided Access Mode (for lending your phone safely)

Need to lend your iPhone to a friend or a child without letting them access everything?
Use Guided Access Mode — it locks your device inside a single app.

How to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access → Enable

2. Turn on Accessibility Shortcut and set a passcode or Face ID

3. Open the app you want to share → triple-click the side button → Start

Now, no one can exit that app without your permission.
Perfect for kids or curious friends.

Conclusion

If you’ve completed all these steps, your iPhone is now a digital fortress.
These eight settings take less than 10 minutes to configure but can save your data, privacy, and identity from serious risks.

Tell me in the comments: which of these settings were already enabled on your iPhone?
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