Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) covertly inserted a new security feature in iOS 18.1 that automatically prompts iPhones to reboot after 72 hours of inactivity. The new feature, dubbed "inactivity reboot," was first reported by 404 Media.

404 Media reported that iPhones stored by police in evidence were rebooting themselves, and it turns out it’s all due to a new Inactivity Reboot feature shipping in iOS 18.1. First reported by security researcher Jiska Classen, this new feature reboots your iPhone if it has gone unused for at least four days.

Apple's iOS 18.1 auto-reboot feature locks iPhones after four days, blocking easy access, but at the same time, frustrating law enforcement in forensic probes.

Last week, we saw a report of law enforcement officials being concerned that iPhones were secretly communicating with each other to force reboots, frustrating law enforcement. However, while it seems these suspicions were indeed based on a change that Apple made in a recent iOS update, it’s not what police forensic investigators first thought.

The inactivity reboot may not be the flashiest new feature of iOS 18.1, but it’s a quietly powerful addition that strengthens the security of your iPhone. By automatically restarting your device after a period of inactivity, it reduces the risk of unauthorized access, ensuring your information stays safe.

Apple (AAPL, Financials) has introduced a covert security feature in its iOS 18.1 update that triggers iPhones to reboot automatically after 72 hours of inactivity, a measure aimed at enhancing data protection.

Apple introduces automatic iPhone reboot security feature in iOS 18, enhancing user privacy while complicating unauthorized access attempts by both criminals and law enforcement.