Apple is warning iPhone users not to display contact information on the lock screen if the device has been stolen. The company says that a visible phone number can give criminals an opening for social engineering scams rather than helping the phone find its way back.
The advice marks a notable shift from Apple’s earlier guidance. In the past, putting contact details on the lock screen was considered useful when a lost iPhone was found by a well-intentioned person, but that logic no longer applies in theft cases.
Why the lock screen number can be dangerous
According to Apple’s updated support guidance, a thief can use the contact number to reach the owner and pose as an official representative. The most likely impersonation tactics include pretending to be Apple support or a mobile carrier in order to extract more personal information.
That information can then be used in attempts to gain access to the device or the owner’s accounts. Apple warns that the risk does not stop at the phone itself, because a convincing fake conversation can open the door to Apple account compromise and exposure of private data.
Do not remove the stolen iPhone from Find My
Apple is also urging users not to remove a stolen iPhone from Find My. Doing so would disable Activation Lock, one of the main barriers that makes a device harder to erase and resell.
Once Activation Lock is turned off, a thief can more easily wipe the device and move it into the secondary market. Apple says the safer move is to mark the device as lost, which keeps the protection in place while the owner works to secure the account.
Lost Mode and Stolen Device Protection
Apple says Lost Mode can be activated remotely and is an important first step after theft. The company notes that this helps the owner mark the device as missing even without physical access to the iPhone.
That advice matters because Stolen Device Protection is only temporary. The feature adds another layer of security by requiring biometric authentication for access to stored passwords and credit card information.
It also affects attempts to change an Apple account password from an unfamiliar location. In that case, the thief must wait one hour and still use Face ID or Touch ID before making the change.
Apple says the delay is designed to give owners time to react. That window can be used to turn on Lost Mode and reduce the chance of an account takeover, even if the thief already knows the user’s password.
Help that still applies when a phone is lost, not stolen
Apple acknowledges that displaying a contact number or message on the lock screen can still be useful in a simple lost-device scenario. If an iPhone is left behind and found by an honest person, the contact detail can help the device return to its owner.
The company’s message is that users must separate a lost phone from a stolen one. A measure that is helpful in one situation can become a security risk in the other, especially when the person holding the device is actively trying to take control of it.
Apple’s support guidance also points to additional steps, including removing the stolen iPhone from the list of trusted devices and filing an AppleCare+ Theft and Loss claim. The broader goal is to keep Activation Lock active, protect the Apple account, and avoid giving thieves an easy social engineering route through the lock screen.