iPhone Users Can Set Up Text Feature To Catch Stolen Phones: Our phones have become a huge part of everyday life. They are no longer just for calls and texts. They store our personal details, help us pay for shopping, keep track of schedules, and give us access to the internet at all times.
That is why losing your phone, or having it stolen, can instantly cause panic. Not only are you cut off from everything on it, but if your security settings are not properly set up, someone else could potentially get into your private information.
The good news is that there is a simple way to make your iPhone more secure if the worst happens. With a few quick settings, you can prepare your phone to protect itself and even help you track it down in an emergency.
A clever iPhone trick shared on TikTok
The tip comes from a TikTok user named Aaliyah, who explained that iPhones have an automation feature that can run certain actions automatically when specific conditions are met. When set up the right way, this feature can take a photo and share your phone’s location without you touching the device.
Aaliyah said: “Did you know that if your phone gets nicked, you can send a text message to your number from any phone and it will open your front camera, take a picture of whoever’s holding the phone, and send that picture and the location of your phone to whoever you want?
“I’ve set mine up to be my mum, my mum’s fiance, my boyfriend, and a few other people. To me, that’s mad. Even if your phone hasn’t been nicked and you’ve just lost it, you can still do the same thing and figure out where your phone is, because you’ll have the location.”
What you need to know before setting it up
In the caption of her video, Aaliyah explained a few important limitations. This trick only works if your phone is turned on, has a signal, has not been wiped, and allows automations to run. If your phone has been missing for days and the battery is dead, this method will not work.
How to set up the automation
To get started, open the Shortcuts menu in your settings and select Automation. Tap the plus button and choose to create a personal automation. This is where you tell your phone what to do when certain conditions are met.
Next, you need to choose the trigger. Select Message and then pick the option that says “message contains”. From there, choose a trigger phrase such as “My phone has been stolen” or “I’ve lost my phone”. When your iPhone receives a text with that phrase, it will automatically run the actions you set.
Now it is time to add your actions. Tap Add Action and choose what you want your phone to do. Aaliyah suggests setting low power mode to on so the battery lasts longer, taking a photo using the front camera and sending it by text to a trusted contact, and sharing the phone’s current location with someone you trust.
Once everything is in place, Aaliyah says it is crucial to turn off the options that ask before running and notify when the automation has been run. Leaving these switched on could allow a thief to stop the automation or alert them when it finishes.
Extra steps to protect your data
Aaliyah also recommends turning on additional security features, including Find My iPhone, send last location, and erase after multiple failed passcode attempts. These settings add another layer of protection and help prevent thieves from accessing your most sensitive data.
What people are saying
Many people in the comments thanked Aaliyah for sharing the tip, saying they had no idea their phone could do this. Others pointed out that experienced thieves may remove the SIM card, which would stop the automation from working.
One person said: “Love the automation feature. Great idea. I keep mine on do not disturb, and it will ring if I send a text from anyone in the family because I lose it all day.”
Another added: “Why didn’t I see this video last week when I lost my phone?!” Meanwhile, a third wrote: “Only if it’s still on. Most phone thieves know about the Find My Phone and such safety features, so they just turn off the phone.”
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