Your iPhone can be unlocked without correct passcode unless you do ‘expiration’ trick to stop snoopers

YOU must take special steps to block snoopers from breaking into your iPhone.

A change in the latest iPhone update aimed to help you get back into your device could be abused – but the fix is extremely simple.

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In the iOS 17 update in September, Apple changed how passcodes work.

Now if you change your passcode, you can still use your old code for 72 hours.

This genius trick is designed to let you back into your iPhone if you forget it.

But if you’ve changed your passcode because someone has discovered it that shouldn’t have, they could abuse this to break into your iPhone.

“When you change your passcode in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and later, Passcode Reset gives you 72 hours when your old iPhone or iPad passcode can be used to access your device,” Apple explained.

“When you access your iPhone or iPad this way, you must immediately change your passcode once more.”

How to expire a passcode

Thankfully there’s a very simple fix: expiring your old passcode.

You can instantly switch off your old passcode so that it can’t be used.

Make sure to do it if someone has seen your passcode in public and you’re nervous – or if someone close to you that you don’t trust saw you type it in.

First, check that you’ve got iOS 17 installed to see if any of this affects you.

Just go to Settings > General > Software Update to see which version of iOS you’re on.

Then go into Settings > Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode.

Then just tap Expire Previous Passcode Now.

This means someone who has learned your passcode won’t be able to use it once you’ve switched to a new one.

The 72-hour grace period will no longer apply and you’ll be totally protected.

Passcode Reset

If you have changed your passcode for some other reason and want to use the Passcode Reset with the 72-hour grace period, it’s easy enough.

Go to the Lock Screen and enter your passcode five times until you see the “[Device] Unavailable” screen.

Your device will ask you to try again later.

Then when you can try again, tap the new Forgot Passcode? icon in the bottom corner of the screen.

You’ll then be given the option to Enter Previous Passcode, then follow the instructions on-screen to set a new one.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk