How to Enable Lock Mode for High Security on iPhone and iPad

With the release of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 appleoffers users an “extreme” level of security. Lock Modeintroduced the . This article explains who Lock Mode is for, what it does, and how to enable it.

In ‌iOS 16‌ and ‌iPadOS 16‌, Apple introduced Lock Mode, a new optional security feature designed to protect iPhone and iPad users who may be at risk of highly targeted cyberattacks from private companies developing government-sponsored spyware.

While the feature is aimed at a very small number of users who might be the target of cyber attacks, such as journalists, activists, and government employees, any user can enable it on their own device for what Apple calls an “extreme” level of security.

How does Lock Mode protect your device?

When enabled, Lock Mode strictly limits or disables the functionality of features, apps, and websites. Lock Mode protections include:

• Messages: Most message attachment types are blocked, except for certain images, videos, and sounds. Some features are not available, such as links and link previews.
• Web browsing: Some complex web technologies are blocked. This can cause some websites to load slower or not work properly. Also, web fonts may not be displayed and no images may be displayed instead of images.
• FaceTime: FaceTime calls from people you haven’t called before are blocked.
• Apple services: Invites for Apple services, such as invitations to manage a home in the Home app, are blocked if you haven’t already invited that person.
• Shared Albums: Shared albums are removed from the Photos app and new Shared Album invitations are blocked. You can view these shared albums on other devices with Lock Mode disabled. Once you turn Lock Mode off, you need to turn Shared Albums back on in your device settings.
• Device connections: To connect your iPhone or iPad to an accessory or another computer, the device must be unlocked. To connect your Mac laptop with Apple Silicon chip to an accessory, your Mac must be unlocked and expressly approved.
• Configuration profiles: Configuration profiles cannot be loaded and the device cannot be registered in Mobile Device Management or device control while Lock Mode is active.

Phone calls and plain text messages will still work when Lock Mode is active. This mode does not affect emergency features such as emergency SOS calls.

How to Enable Lock Mode on iPhone and iPad

Lock Mode is turned off by default on ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌, but you can enable it by following these steps.

Apple has added a new category to its Security Award program to reward researchers who find Lock Mode bypasses and help improve their protection, so expect new protections to be added over time.