iPhone Lockdown Mode: The pros and cons of enabling Apple's security feature

Lockdown Mode enables extreme protections for those most at risk, but it’s overkill for most people. IPhone Lockdown Mode: The pros and cons of enabling Apple’s security feature. Big Tech Apple iPhone Lockdown Mode: The pros and cons of enabling Apple’s security feature Lockdown Mode makes your iPhone much more secure against spyware, but most people don’t need to use it.

It’s one of those features that’s well-hidden in the Settings app, plus it’s not really meant for the average person. Apple itself calls the tool an "extreme" layer of security for the few people who may be targeted by commercial spyware such as NSO’s Pegasus. Journalists, activists and politicians are among the potential targets of such spyware.

Anyone with an iPhone running iOS 16 or newer can try out Lockdown Mode. It’s also available on iPadOS 16 and later, watchOS 10 and newer, and macOS 13 Ventura and later. To turn it on, open Settings and go to Privacy & Security.

Scroll down until you find Lockdown Mode, then tap Turn On & Restart and confirm with your passcode.