Apple is still developing a feature that could automatically lock an iPhone when it is pulled from its owner’s hand. References found in the iOS 27.2 beta describe an internal system called “AutoLock,” which would use the iPhone’s sensors and connections to identify a possible snatch-and-grab theft.

The feature has not been announced by Apple, and there is no indication of when it might become available. However, the additional code suggests the company continues to test the idea rather than abandoning it.

How Apple’s anti-snatching feature could work

According to code examined by 9to5Mac, AutoLock may combine several signals before deciding that an iPhone has been stolen. Those signals include a sudden burst of acceleration consistent with a phone being yanked away, as well as the loss of communication with a paired Apple Watch.

The system could also respond if an Apple Watch remains unreachable for a set period, if the iPhone loses network connectivity for an extended time, or if the device stays unlocked beyond a specified interval. These conditions would provide different ways to identify a theft, particularly when the phone is separated abruptly from its owner.

The references reportedly describe a voting-style system rather than a single trigger. A potential theft signal could request that the iPhone lock, while evidence such as successful biometric authentication, activity in a foreground app, or the device being in a familiar location could override that request.

What happens after a theft signal

If the system confirms that an iPhone has been snatched, it would lock the device and enable Stolen Device Protection. That existing security feature adds restrictions when an iPhone is away from locations such as home or work.

With Stolen Device Protection active, sensitive actions require biometric authentication instead of only a passcode. Examples include accessing stored passwords and payment cards. Other account-related changes, including changing an Apple Account password, can also be subject to built-in delays of about an hour.

Those protections are intended to limit what a thief can do even if the person knows or has observed the iPhone’s passcode. Automatically activating them at the moment of a suspected theft could reduce the time available for unauthorized access.

Apple has not confirmed a release date

Google already offers a Theft Detection Lock feature on Android that can lock a phone after a suspected snatch-and-grab incident. Apple’s work appears aimed at providing a similar layer of protection, while using additional signals from Apple Watch ownership and familiar locations.

Apple has not confirmed AutoLock or said that it will ship the feature in a future iOS release. Its presence in the iOS 27.2 beta indicates ongoing development, but beta code does not guarantee that a feature will reach the public version of the software.