With iOS 18, Apple is making it nearly impossible to use stolen iPhone parts

We already know that Live Activities in iOS 18 won’t be refreshed in real-time. But there’s something else you ought to know about Apple’s new mobile OS, especially if you’ve ever tried to build a Frankenstein iPhone from scavenged parts. With iOS 18, Apple’s about to shut that operation down, making sure stolen iPhone parts become as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Enter Activation Lock — Apple’s latest weapon in the battle against stolen devices. You might already be familiar with this feature that ties your Apple ID to your iPhone, making it nearly impossible to reactivate a stolen device. But in iOS 18, Apple’s taking it up a notch by extending this feature to individual parts of the phone — yes, even the ones hiding under the hood. We’re talking about your battery, camera, and display, each now proudly sporting their own serial numbers and activation lock. That means your phone won’t accept a transplant without demanding the original owner’s Apple ID password. No ID? No part.

This new strategy directly targets the black market, where stolen iPhones are often stripped for valuable parts. Apple’s saying “not on my watch!” by making it so that even when thieves try to swap in those “hot” parts, the phone knows — and it won’t play along unless the original owner steps in. So good luck reselling that stolen iPhone battery now.

And for those wondering if they can still tinker with parts between devices — yep, the feature is live in the latest iOS 18 RC. Apple’s beta testers have already tried swapping components, and surprise, surprise — without the original Apple ID, your iPhone isn’t going to do much more than frown at you.

This clever move is Apple’s way of discouraging theft without totally cutting off the DIY repair crowd. You can still use legitimate, genuine used parts — just be prepared to prove where they came from. Apple’s basically setting up a gatekeeper at every component inside the phone, all in a bid to make sure what’s being installed isn’t from a shady source.

Oh, and let’s not forget that while iPhones are getting tougher to break into, Apple’s also rolling out some next-level privacy tech in the iPhone 16 lineup. The new Secure Exclave, a fancy little security gem in the A18 chip, works with the microphone and camera hardware to ensure those tiny indicator lights (you know, the green and orange dots that tell you when your camera or mic is on) can’t be bypassed by sneaky apps. This hardware-based solution is basically like having a bouncer inside your iPhone, making sure no one’s listening or watching without your permission.

So, with iOS 18 rollout and iPhone 16 shipments around the corner, Apple’s making it crystal clear: whether it’s stolen parts or sneaky apps, the only way into your iPhone is through the front door, and you better have the right keys.