Urgent iPhone warning: Turn three settings on NOW to block thieves

YOUR iPhone is packed with features designed to lock out thieves and keep your device secure.

From wiping your device before crooks can read your messages to tracking your mobile down remotely, here are three of the best.

Your iPhone is packed with settings that help to keep your device secure

1. Restrict access to Control Centre

If you’re an iPhone user, you may be familiar with the Control Centre.

It gives access to some iPhone functions – including some notes, control over lights, and even media playback on your TV.

One of the big perks of Control Centre is that you can access it from the lock screen.

Importantly, unlocking your device isn’t necessary to use it.

But that may be seen as a security risk by some users. It potentially gives a thief access to features such as your camera.

Thankfully, it only takes a few seconds to turn the feature off.

If you do turn it off, you can still use Control Centre. But you’ll need to unlock your device first.

Unlock your iPhone and then go into Settings.

Then tap on Face ID and Passcode – or Touch ID and Passcode if you’re using a Home button device.

Enter your passcode if you’re asked.

Then scroll down and look for the Control Centre toggle.

Set the switch to the Off position, so the button is grey and not green.

That’s it: Control Centre is no longer accessible from the lock screen.

If you ever change your mind, you can hop back into Settings and re-enable it.

2. Erase your iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts

If a thief attempts to break into your iPhone, their first port of call will likely be the passcode function.

That’s the string of numbers you’ve set that unlock your iPhone when plugged in at the lock screen.

You can turn a special Erase Data function on so that your iPhone wipes itself when there are too many failed passcode attempts.

Activating the setting means that your iPhone will be wiped after 10 passcode attempts.

That means the person who has hijacked your iPhone won’t be able to get their hands on your photos, texts and more.

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and then enter your passcode.

Then scroll all the way to the bottom and set the toggle for Erase Data to the On position.

Now, if someone makes 10 unsuccessful passcode attempts, your iPhone will wipe all of your personal data.

Importantly, even though your data will be erased from your iPhone, you shouldn’t lose it completely.

That’s because the data isn’t deleted from your iCloud.

So as long as you have regular backups on iCloud, you should be safe.

3. Turn on Find My iPhone

The Find My app is an Apple app built into all of its devices.

You can use it to locate your gadgets on a map, which is great for tracking down a lost or stolen iPhone.

It’s also possible to remotely wipe your iPhone – or another Apple gadget – to stop thieves nabbing your info or files.

If your iPhone has been stolen, open Find My on another Apple device on which you’re signed in with your Apple ID.

If you don’t have a secondary device, access the feature on a browser via iCloud.com/find (you’ll need to log in with your Apple ID).

You’ll be presented with a map showing the locations of all your Apple gadgets.

Tap “All Devices” at the top of the page and select the gizmo you’re hunting for to view its whereabouts.

You can find information on how to set up Find My here.

Read all the latest Phones & Gadgets newsKeep up-to-date on Apple storiesGet the latest on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk