Apple released iOS 18.1 in October, more than a month after the tech company’s exit iOS 18. While iOS 18.1 brings some new features and bug fixes to your iPhone, like call recordingApple introduced a new security feature in January when the company released iOS 17.3. The feature is called Protecting Stolen Devicesand it aims to protect your data if your phone is stolen or falls into the wrong hands.

According to Apple, Stolen Device Protection can help protect your accounts and personal information if your iPhone is stolen. This is an optional feature, but Apple recommends everyone enable it.

Here’s how to enable Stolen Device Protection and what you need to know about the new security feature.

Learn more: How to Make Your iPhone’s Stolen Device Protection More Effective

How to enable stolen device protection

After updating your iPhone, your phone should ask you whether or not you want to enable stolen device protection. If you didn’t see this screen or were planning to later, here’s how to enable the security feature.

1. Open Settings.
2. Faucet Face ID and passcode.
3. Faucet Stolen Device Protection.
4. Tap the button next to Protecting Stolen Devices to enable the feature.

Learn more: How to strengthen protection for stolen devices

What you need to know about protecting stolen devices

As CNET’s David Lumb reportsStolen device protection requires you to enter your biometric information at least once to access some of your settings and sensitive information when you are not in a familiar location, like your home.

Here are some of the things Apple has said you’ll need to enter your biometric information for so you can change or access it when you’re in an unfamiliar location:

• Using passwords or access keys saved in your keychain.
• Use payment methods saved in Safari and filled automatically.
• Turn off Lost Fashion.
• Erasing all content and settings from your iPhone.
• Request a new Apple Card.
• Displaying the virtual number of your Apple Card.
• Perform certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in your wallet, such as initiating a transfer.
• Use your iPhone to set up a new device.

The feature also uses a new mechanism called Security Delay, when changing certain settings. If you try to change these settings when you are in an unfamiliar location, Stolen Device Protection will ask you to enter your biometric information twice; once at the beginning, then again after an hour. According to Apple, if you arrive at a familiar location while waiting for the security timeout to expire, your device may end the timeout prematurely.

Here are some of the things that Apple says are protected by the security delay:

• Disable stolen device protection.
• Change your Apple ID password.
• Sign out of your Apple ID.
• Update your Apple ID account security settings, such as adding or removing trusted devices.
• Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID information.
• Change your iPhone password.
• Resetting all settings on your iPhone.
• Disable Find My.

Since Stolen Device Protection only protects a handful of settings, you should still take steps to protect your other information. For example, Apple notes that you can still use your iPhone passcode to make purchases with Apple Pay, so device theft protection won’t fully protect your finances. Although Stolen Device Protection is an optional feature and doesn’t protect everything on your phone, Apple still recommends that everyone enable it.

For more iOS news, here everything you need to know about iOS 18.1My iOS 18 Review and our iOS 18 Cheat Sheet. You can also check what iOS 18.2 could soon be available on your iPhone.