Apple continues to work on a feature that automatically locks an iPhone when it detects that the device has been snatched from its owner’s hand. Earlier this year, 9to5Mac first reported that Apple was working on a new iPhone security feature that can automatically lock the device when it detects that it has been snatched from the user’s hand. While Apple has yet to officially announce the feature, new references included in iOS 27.2 beta 2 show the company is still actively developing it.

According to new code seen today by 9to5Mac, the feature, called “Auto Lock” internally, can use signals such as a sharp acceleration consistent with the phone being snatched, a paired Apple Watch remaining unreachable for a certain period, loss of connectivity to a paired Apple Watch, prolonged loss of network connectivity, and the device remaining unlocked beyond a certain interval. New references include safeguards to prevent false positives, such as successful biometric authentication, certain foreground app activities, and a backoff mechanism. The code also suggests Auto Lock uses a voting system where a potential theft signal can request a lock, while safeguards like biometrics, familiar locations, or certain app activities can veto it.

These details add to existing references, including a location-based safeguard similar to Stolen Device Protection. The feature is still under development and is not currently enabled or available as a user-facing option in iOS 27.2 beta 2. Apple has enabled the underlying Auto Lock service in the background while keeping the component that actually locks the iPhone disabled, possibly to test behavior without triggering automatic locks. Whether or when it will launch remains up to Apple.