Earlier this year, Apple announced some changes to its repair policies. In general, the company allowed users to repair their iPhones more easily with original and used parts. However, Apple also announced that it would be introducing Activation Lock on iPhone parts. This new feature came into effect with iOS 18.
As reported by BetaProfiles , the RC (Release Candidate) version of iOS 18, which is being rolled out to developers and public beta testers, enables Activation Lock for iPhone parts. As Apple previously explained, this feature not only ties your iPhone to your Apple account, but also connects components like the battery, camera, and display to your Apple account via their serial numbers.
Apple’s goal is to crack down on the marketplace for stolen iPhone parts. iPhones are protected by Activation Lock, but stolen devices are often sold for their parts, which are still valuable. Now, when the iPhone detects a used part, it will request the Apple account password of the original device’s owner.
The change was announced in April with the following statements: “Apple will expand Activation Lock to iPhone parts in response to customer and law enforcement requests. This feature is designed to prevent stolen iPhones from being disassembled and sold. If a device under repair detects a part obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, that part’s calibration capabilities will be restricted.”
Some users attempted to swap parts between iPhones on iOS 18.0 RC, and indeed the device requested the Apple account password to unlock and verify the part used.
Of course, there will always be those who try to bypass Apple’s security systems, but it’s good to see the company finding new ways to deter iPhone theft.
Apple introduces new measure for iPhone XR and newer models
iOS 18 will be generally available on Monday, September 16. This version will support iPhone XR and newer models. It’s also worth noting that Activation Lock for Songs will only be available on iPhones for now, and won’t work on iPads that ship with iPadOS 18.