Apple has extended its Activation Lock feature to individual iPhone components with the release of iOS 18. This update is available to developers and public beta testers. In addition, it aims to combat the resale of parts from stolen iPhones.
Linking Components to Apple Accounts
The new feature links specific iPhone components, such as batteries, cameras, and displays, to the original owner’s Apple Account. This makes it harder for unauthorized repairers to use parts from other iPhones.
Verifying Component Authenticity
When an iPhone detects a replacement part, it prompts the user for the Apple Account password of the original device owner to verify the component’s authenticity. Without proper authentication, the device will limit the functionality of the unverified part. Thus, it will be harder to sell or use the stolen parts.
Apple Closing a Loophole
The growing market for pieces of stolen iPhones motivated this initiative, rendered useless by existing Activation Lock measures. By extending Activation Lock to individual components, Apple is closing a major loophole. Additionally, it will allow the gray market for iPhone parts to thrive. The company has developed this new feature following requests from both customers and law enforcement to make iPhones less attractive targets for theft.
Preventing Resale of Stolen Parts
As described earlier this year, Apple’s goal is to prevent stolen iPhones from being dismantled and resold for parts. If a device under repair detects a component associated with an Apple Account under Activation Lock or Lost Mode, it will block the part’s calibration, limiting its usage.
Compatibility and Availability
Some users have attempted to swap parts between iPhones running iOS 18’s Release Candidate version. However, they confirmed that the system requires Apple ID credentials to unlock and verify used components. The final version of iOS 18 will likely be made available to the public on September 16. Additionally, it will include compatibility limited to iPhone XR and later models. For now, the Activation Lock feature is exclusive to iPhone components, with iPads running iPadOS 18 unaffected by the new system.
