Your iPhone will soon use its internal sensors to detect if it’s been snatched from your hands: Report

Apple is seemingly looking to take a page out of Google's playbook in order to fortify the security on the iPhones by introducing a security feature that automatically locks the device the moment it detects that it has been snatched from the user’s hand, similar to Android's Theft Detection Lock.

According to a report by 9to5Mac, the feature is currently under ‘active development’ but there is no expected timeline on when it could be announced.

In order to prevent the damage in such situations, Apple has some protections in place with the time-based security delays protection that came with Stolen Device protection feature in iOS 17.3 and forces a mandatory waiting period if the phone detects it is away from a trusted location.

But as 9to5Mac points out, those safeguards may not be enough if a thief grabs an iPhone while it is already unlocked.

To protect the user data in such situations, Apple is reportedly developing the new feature that will aimed at automatically locking the iPhone once the system detects that it has been taken away from the user's hand.

The feature will reportedly monitor the iPhone's built-in accelerometer to detect the sudden movements consistent with a phone being snatched away from its owner.

In order to further verify if the iPhone is stolen from the owner, the new tool is als said to check for proximity from a paired Apple Watch.

The company is also reportedly integrating the feature with the same logic currently used for Stolen Device Protection. This means the iPhone could check whether it is connected to a familiar WiFi network or located at a trusted place like home or work before deciding how aggressively to lock down access.

Apple is also reportedly integrating the feature with the same logic currently used for Stolen Device Protection. This means the iPhone could check whether it is connected to a familiar WiFi network or located at a trusted place like home or work before deciding how aggressively to lock down access.

If the iPhone detects a snatching in an unfamiliar location, it will not only lock the screen but also immediately restrict access to sensitive apps and settings and payment information.

While there is no rumored timeline for the new security feature from Apple, one would hope that the company could unveil its new feature at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2026 next month where it will also unveil the latest versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS and other related systems.