Last spring, Apple unveiled changes to its repair policies, making it easier for users to repair their iPhones with certified pre-owned parts. However, the company also announced that Activation Lock would now apply to iPhone parts. This feature is now live with the release of iOS 18. A feature that goes hand in hand with the repair assistant seen yesterday.
“Activation Lock”
As noted BetaProfiles on Xthe RC version of iOS 18, released Monday to developers and public testers, adds Activation Lock for iPhone parts. This not only associates your Apple account with your iPhone, but also with components like the battery, cameras, and display, based on their individual serial numbers.
Apple’s goal is to end the market for spare parts from stolen iPhones. Until now, even if stolen iPhones had the activation lock after restoration, they were often sold on the gray market for their parts, which are still very profitable. Now, when the iPhone detects a used part, it will ask for the Apple account password of the original owner of the device.
Here’s how Apple described the change in April:
Apple will also extend its popular Activation Lock feature to iPhone parts to deter the theft of iPhones that have been disassembled for their components. Requested by customers and law enforcement, the feature aims to reduce iPhone theft by preventing a lost or stolen device from being reactivated. If a device being repaired detects that a part came from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, that part’s calibration capabilities will be restricted.
Those who have attempted to swap parts between two iPhones running iOS 18.0 have the device requiring the original Apple ID password to validate and unlock the component in question.
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.
Learn more about the new parts calibration process in iOS 18: https://t.co/fTcu0f3jxy… pic.twitter.com/OYA1MFjKi6
— Beta Profiles (@BetaProfiles) September 13, 2024
It is obvious that some will always try to bypass Apple’s security measures, but here is a new measure that should annoy thieves a little more. Deterrence is often the best anti-theft. To do this, do not hesitate to share this article with as many people around you as possible.
Everything you need to know about iOS 18
As a reminder, iOS 18 and its 250 new features will be made available to the general public from Monday, September 16 and will require at least an iPhone XR / XS. The iPhone X has been ousted, while the iPhone 16, whose pre-orders open today, will be delivered directly with this update which focuses on security, customization and artificial intelligence.