iPhone users urged to know ‘secret privacy trick’ that adds another layer of protection to device
iPhones are safe in so many ways, but some of their best security features can be surprisingly hard to find.
A perfect case in point is one relatively unknown setting that can give your iPhone a whole new layer of security - and is remarkably easy to set up.
It basically lets you add a secondary passcode, letting you lock certain settings with a number that's different to your main passcode.
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You can access it through the Screen Time service - which is actually meant to help you create restrictions on using certain apps or services to help you focus and reduce your screen time each day, but can also have great privacy bonuses. To set up a secondary passcode, follow these steps:
- Open your Settings app and tap on Screen Time.
- Scroll down to Lock Screen Time Settings, and tap on it to set a different passcode from your main iPhone passcode.
- Next, scroll down to Content & Privacy Restrictions and tap on it.
- Turn the slider at the top of the section on.
- Scroll down in the list to find Passcode changes and Account changes, and change both to "Don't allow".
Once you've set this system up, your Settings app will make sure that you have to put in your newly created Screen Time passcode whenever you want to make changes to your iPhone's passcode or Apple ID account.
This is a huge extra layer of security, since it means that even if someone manages to steal your iPhone and figure out your passcode, they won't be able to change it to their own choice of code, and they also won't be able to make changes to your Apple ID.
The feature isn't even really intended to stop this sort of malicious action - really, it's meant to make you think twice before using a bunch of apps you know are a bit addictive and make you spend way too much time on your phone.
That extra bit of security is just a bonus, but you could also use this as a chance to really look into all the other features that Screen Time setting offers, to see if you could enhance how you use your phone.
It might not necessarily make you an iPhone power-user, though - it's more helpful for ensuring you don't just use your phone mindlessly all day, especially if you'd rather be concentrating on other things.