Privacy and security
USB Accessories
Most people call this blocking data access through the port when locked.
An hour after the phone locks, the wired port stops carrying data to accessories until you unlock the phone again.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 13 and later
- Settings
- Face ID & Passcode
- USB Accessories
What it does
Charging continues, but data does not. This is the defence against tools that plug into a locked phone to extract data or guess passcodes. Turning USB Accessories on removes the one hour limit.
What changes
When it is on
Accessories keep working indefinitely while the phone is locked.
When it is off
After an hour locked, data over the port stops until you unlock.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- A car, hearing aid or medical accessory needs continuous access.
- Long connected sessions keep failing.
Good reasons to turn it off
- It closes a real attack path on a seized or stolen phone.
- Charging is unaffected, so most people never notice the restriction.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
Helps
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off, meaning the one hour restriction is active.
Worth reading first
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 13 and later
Settings > Face ID & Passcode > USB Accessories
-
iOS 13 and later
Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > USB Accessories
Questions people actually ask
- Why does my iPhone say unlock to use accessories?
- The port stops carrying data an hour after locking. Unlock the phone and reconnect.
If it is not working
- If an accessory says you must unlock the iPhone, this restriction is the reason.
- Lockdown Mode enforces a stricter version that cannot be relaxed.