Warning issued to Apple users seeking repairs as new update comes in

Apple's latest iOS update will reportedly introduce a special feature to prevent stolen phone parts from being used.

Earlier this year, Apple introduced 'Activation Lock' - 'a feature that’s designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone or iPad if it’s ever lost or stolen'.

However, it's now reported the feature is extending to individual parts of an iPhone device too, hopefully deterring people from mugging you for your Apple device and much harder to sell the parts of the phone on should they do so anyway.

What is 'Activation lock'

The tech company's website explains: "Activation Lock is turned on automatically when you set up Find My on your device.

"Activation Lock helps you keep your device secure, even if it falls into the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it. Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone else from reactivating your device without your permission. All you need to do is keep Find My turned on."

If 'Activation Lock' is turned on - which it will be automatically when you first set up 'Find My,' Apple stores your Apple ID 'on its activation servers and links it to your device'. This means your Apple ID password or device passcode is 'required' before any big changes can be made to your phone.

You mark your phone as 'Lost' in the 'Find My' app and it will lock your screen with a passcode and you can add a message to help get it back too or just choose to wipe it.

Basically, the 'Activation Lock' means the person who took it won't be able to turn off your Find My iPhone, 'erase' it or 'reactivate and use' it as if it's a new phone. And the feature is reportedly being extended to every part of the iPhone too.

The update to Activation Lock will hopefully further deter thieves (Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Latest update

In April, Apple stated in an update shared to its newsroom: "Apple will also extend its popular Activation Lock feature to iPhone parts in order to deter stolen iPhones from being disassembled for parts."

This includes replaceable parts such as the display screen, camera and battery - all with their own individual serial numbers.

The update continues: "Requested by customers and law enforcement officials, the feature was designed to limit iPhone theft by blocking a lost or stolen iPhone from being reactivated.

"If a device under repair detects that a supported part was obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be restricted."

Betaprofiles explains on Threads: "The fact is, you can tap Cancel and continue using the iPhone without entering the previous owner’s Apple Account. However, the replaced part will be labeled as "Unknown Part" in Settings."

You'll be able to lock replaceable parts of your iPhone (Apple/ Threads/ @betaprofiles)

iOS 18 - available on iPhone XR or later - was tested on 'developers and public beta testers' on Monday (September 9) and is set to roll out to the public on Monday (September 16), 9to5Mac reports.

Activation Lock for parts is currently reported as only being available on iPhones and not iPads or other devices yet.