Apple has reportedly introduced Activation Lock for iPhone parts with iOS 18. Here is everything you need to know.
This feature links an Apple Account to individual iPhone components like the battery, cameras, and display.
Activation Lock is intended to combat the sale of parts from stolen iPhones.
If an iPhone detects a used part, it will prompt for the Apple Account password of the original device owner.
The feature prevents unauthorized parts from being calibrated if they came from a locked or lost device.
Apple aims to limit iPhone theft by blocking stolen devices from being sold for parts.
Users testing iOS 18 confirmed that swapped parts trigger the Apple Account password prompt.
The new feature was requested by both customers and law enforcement to reduce theft. Activation Lock for parts only applies to iPhones, not iPads.
iOS 18 will be publicly released on September 16, supporting iPhone XR and newer models.
