Apple iOS 18 adds ‘Activation Lock’ to camera, battery, and more to prevent stolen iPhone parts from being resold

With the release of iOS 18, Apple is said to have taken additional precautions against theft by expanding the use of its Activation Lock function to specific iPhone components. This upgrade links particular components-like batteries, cameras, and displays—to the original owner's Apple Account in an effort to prevent the resale of parts from stolen iPhones. It is accessible to developers and public beta testers.

This feature was reportedly activated with the Release Candidate build of iOS 18, making it harder for unauthorized repairs to be carried out using parts from other iPhones. When an iPhone detects a replacement part, it prompts the user for the Apple Account password of the original device owner to verify the component’s authenticity. Without proper authentication, the device will limit the functionality of the unverified part, making it harder for stolen parts to be used or sold.

The initiative stems from a growing market where stolen iPhones, rendered useless due to existing Activation Lock measures, are sold off in pieces. By extending Activation Lock to individual components, Apple is closing a major loophole that allows the gray market for iPhone parts to thrive. The company has stated that this new feature was developed following requests from both customers and law enforcement to make iPhones less attractive targets for theft.

Apple's goal is to prevent stolen iPhones from being dismantled and resold for parts. If a device under repair detects a component associated with an Apple Account under Activation Lock or Lost Mode, it will block the part’s calibration, effectively limiting its usage.

While some users have attempted to swap parts between iPhones running iOS 18's Release Candidate version, they confirmed that the system requires Apple ID credentials to unlock and verify used components. The final version of iOS 18 will likely be made available to the public on September 16, with compatibility limited to iPhone XR and later models.