Improve security

Face ID uses the TrueDepth camera to build a mathematical model of your face, stored only on the device, and uses it to unlock and authorise.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode

Find My lets you locate your iPhone on a map, play a sound on it, mark it as lost, or erase it remotely, and it also enables Activation Lock.

Settings > Apple Account > Find My > Find My iPhone

Your passcode is the root of iPhone security: it encrypts your data, and Face ID or Touch ID are conveniences layered on top of it.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change Passcode

The Software Update screen shows which iOS version you have, offers any update that is available, and holds the automatic update settings.

Settings > General > Software Update

When your iPhone is somewhere unfamiliar, the most damaging actions require Face ID or Touch ID with no passcode fallback, and some require an hour's delay as well.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection

iCloud Backup copies your device settings, app data, messages and photos to iCloud automatically when the phone is locked, charging and on Wi-Fi.

Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > iCloud Backup

Auto-Lock decides how many seconds of no touching pass before the screen turns off and the phone locks.

Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock

Saved passwords, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi passwords and security recommendations all live in one place, protected by Face ID or Touch ID.

Passwords

Wallet holds your cards and Apple Pay authorises payments with Face ID or Touch ID, sending a device specific number rather than your real card number.

Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay

This removes everything and returns the iPhone to the state it was in out of the box, which is what you do before selling or giving it away.

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings

Touch ID reads your fingerprint and stores a mathematical representation in the Secure Enclave, never as an image and never off the device.

Settings > Touch ID & Passcode

You can share your live location with chosen people indefinitely or for a set period, and stop at any time.

Settings > Apple Account > Find My > Share My Location

Holding the side button with a volume button, or pressing the side button repeatedly, calls emergency services and can notify your emergency contacts with your location.

Settings > Emergency SOS

This is the full parental control panel: app installation, purchases, explicit content, web filtering, and whether privacy settings can be changed at all.

Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions

Activation Lock ties an iPhone to your Apple Account so it cannot be set up again by anyone else, and it turns on automatically with Find My.

Settings > Apple Account > Find My > Find My iPhone

A list of switches decides what is reachable from a locked iPhone, including Control Centre, the notification centre, Siri, the wallet and reply from notifications.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Allow Access When Locked

AutoFill offers your saved passwords and verification codes when a sign in field appears, after confirming with Face ID or Touch ID.

Settings > General > AutoFill & Passwords

Back up, sign out of your Apple Account, unpair anything connected, remove the SIM or eSIM, then erase the phone completely.

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings

Sensors can detect a severe car crash, and if you do not respond the iPhone calls emergency services and notifies your emergency contacts.

Settings > Emergency SOS > Call After Severe Crash

Medical ID holds conditions, allergies, medications, blood type and emergency contacts, and can be read from the Lock Screen without unlocking the phone.

Health > Profile picture > Medical ID

Safety Check reviews who can see your location and data, and can stop all sharing with everyone immediately.

Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check

Advanced Data Protection extends end to end encryption to most iCloud categories, including backups and photos, so not even Apple can read them.

Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection

You can allow iOS to download updates automatically, install them automatically, or both, with installation happening overnight while charging.

Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates

On supported iPhones, and in supported countries, you can reach emergency services, roadside assistance or messaging over satellite when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

Settings > Apps > Messages > Satellite

On the iPhone Duo the fingerprint sensor is built into the side button rather than a Home button, so you rest your finger on the button you already press.

Settings > Touch ID & Passcode

Your iPhone checks saved passwords against known data breaches and flags any that are weak, reused or compromised.

Passwords > Security

A VPN sends all your traffic through a server you choose, hiding it from the local network and presenting that server's address to the internet.

Settings > General > VPN & Device Management

This switch decides whether apps update themselves in the background or wait for you to update them in the App Store.

Settings > App Store > App Updates

After ten failed passcode attempts the iPhone erases itself, making brute force guessing pointless.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Erase Data

Sign in with Apple creates an account using your Apple Account, optionally with a hidden forwarding email address instead of your real one.

Settings > Apple Account > Sign-In & Security > Sign in with Apple

This decides whether Siri responds and reads information aloud from a locked iPhone.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Allow Access When Locked > Siri

A trusted person can generate a code that helps you regain access to your Apple Account if you forget your password.

Settings > Apple Account > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery

AutoFill can draw from the built in Passwords app or from a third party password manager you choose.

Settings > General > AutoFill & Passwords

This sets the grace period after the screen locks before the passcode is needed again.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Require Passcode

An hour after the phone locks, the wired port stops carrying data to accessories until you unlock the phone again.

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > USB Accessories

Lockdown Mode disables many convenience features that attackers exploit, and is meant for the small number of people facing targeted mercenary spyware.

Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode

Two factor authentication sends verification codes to your trusted devices and to the phone numbers listed here.

Settings > Apple Account > Sign-In & Security > Trusted Phone Numbers

A configuration profile can change settings, install certificates, add VPNs and restrict features, and this screen shows every one installed.

Settings > General > VPN & Device Management