What Is Lockdown Mode on iPhone, and How To Enable It

The iPhone is widely regarded as one of the most secure smartphones available, thanks to features like the Secure Enclave, which protects biometric data even if the system is compromised. Its closed-source operating system and long-term software support (often exceeding five years) further strengthen its defenses. As a result, approximately 98% of mobile malware targets Android devices instead.

Apple offers additional protection for high-risk users through Lockdown Mode, an advanced feature that significantly reduces potential attack surfaces. In this guide, we’ll explain what Lockdown Mode on iPhone does, how to enable it, and when it’s worth using.

What Is Lockdown Mode on iPhone?

Lockdown Mode is an advanced security feature launched in 2022. It is created as an optional, protective measure against targeted and highly sophisticated spyware attacks. Since these attacks are rare, most users will never need this kind of protection.

This feature is not available on all devices, but all newer models have it, including:

• iOS 16 or later
• iPadOS 16 or later
• watchOS 10 or later
• macOS Ventura or later

What Does Lockdown Mode Do?

Lockdown Mode locks down your phone by restricting features and actions that could be exploited by spyware to access sensitive and private information. Some of the apps and functionalities may be limited or behave differently when Lockdown mode is enabled. Even some basic features, such as calls and messages, might be affected to some extent to enhance security.

Here’s a quick look at what will change when you turn on lockdown mode on iPhone:

When Should the Lockdown Mode Be Used?

Since Lockdown Mode is an advanced security feature, not all users will see the need or decide to enable it; however, it remains a valuable option for those with security concerns. It is primarily designed for individuals who could be at a high risk of targeted digital attacks or surveillance, such as:

• Journalists
• Activists
• Human rights workers
• Protesters
• Government employees
• Defense contractors

Anyone concerned with privacy can use this feature to strengthen their device’s security. It’s particularly useful in higher-risk situations. For example, when traveling to regions with increased digital surveillance or connecting to public Wi-Fi networks where you want an extra layer of protection beyond a VPN.

How To Use Lockdown Mode On iPhone

Enabling the Lockdown Mode is fairly simple. With only a few adjustments to your settings, you can turn it on and off at will. For complete protection, ensure your device is updated to the latest software.

How To Turn On Lockdown Mode on iPhone

Here are the steps you should take to enable iPad’s or iPhone’s Lockdown Mode:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Privacy & Security
3. At the bottom, you’ll find Lockdown Mode
4. Select Turn on Lockdown Mode
5. Tap Turn On & Restart
6. Enter your phone’s passcode

If you have an Apple Watch paired to your phone, Lockdown Mode will automatically apply to the paired watch. However, the device must be running watchOS 10 or later.

How To Remove Lockdown Mode on iPhone

When you feel ready to bring back your phone to its old self, follow these steps to turn off the Lockdown Mode:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Privacy & Security
3. Scroll to Lockdown Mode
4. Click Turn off Lockdown Mode
5. Confirm by tapping Turn Off & Restart

How To Exclude Trusted Apps and Websites From Lockdown Mode

While you’re using Lockdown Mode, you can still allow certain apps and websites in Safari to bypass the activated limitations.

If you’d like to exclude a website from Lockdown Mode while you're browsing, here’s what you need to do:

1. Click the Page Menu button
2. Select the More button to open the Page Menu
3. Turn off Lockdown Mode for that website

Besides websites, your apps can also be affected by the Lockdown Mode. Luckily, you have the option to exclude the apps you want from such limitations. You can also edit your excluded websites at any time. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings
2. Select Privacy & Security
3. Under Security, click Lockdown Mode
4. Select Configure Web Browsing
5. To exclude an app, turn it off (the list only includes apps you’ve opened since turning the Lockdown Mode on and that have limited features)
6. To edit excluded websites, select Excluded Safari Websites, and then click Edit

Does Lockdown Mode Stop Hackers?

The Lockdown Mode doesn’t make your phone resistant to hacking, but it notably reduces the chances of any kind of cyberattack. Since it’s designed for high-end spyware, it minimizes the “attack surface,” that is, it blocks the most common entry points (such as message attachments, requests from unknown people, and unsafe websites).

However, the Lockdown Mode also limits your phone’s functionality, so it’s generally not worth the trade-off, at least for most people. You can find other ways to increase your iPhone’s security that don’t come with such drawbacks, and we’ve covered some of the most effective practices in our guide on mobile security.

Is There a Lockdown Mode On Mac?

MacOS also comes with the Lockdown Mode functionality. As long as you have macOS Ventura or later, you can activate it and raise the shield against sophisticated cyberattacks; just keep in mind that you’ll face the same limitations as on iPhone.

If you decide to turn it on nevertheless, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Apple menu and click System Settings
2. From the sidebar, select Privacy & Security
3. Scroll down, and tap Lockdown Mode
4. Click Turn on Lockdown Mode, and enter the user password if needed
5. Click Turn On & Restart

What Are the Main Limitations of Lockdown Mode?

The Lockdown Mode prioritizes protection, which directly affects the convenience. While most basic functionalities, such as making calls and sending texts, will generally work as usual, you may encounter issues with features that rely on internet connectivity or device-to-device connection and communication.

Let’s take a look at some of the main limitations of using Lockdown mode:

• Most message attachments and link previews will be blocked
• Some websites won’t display correctly, or they will load more slowly
• Certain online images won’t show
• FaceTime calls and invitations from unknown users will be blocked
• Shared photos will be removed, and you won’t receive new shared invitations
• GameCenter will be disabled
• Your phone won’t automatically join unsecured Wi-Fi networks

Should You Use Lockdown Mode?

Lockdown Mode offers an impressive level of protection, but by reducing the entry points to the bare minimum, it also restricts many essential functions. Limiting activities like web browsing, sharing photos, or connecting with new contacts on FaceTime can make your device less practical for everyday use.

To help you weigh the advantages and limitations, here’s a summary of some of the Lockdown Mode’s main pros and cons:

For most people, these limitations outweigh the benefits. Unless you face a specific or credible threat, less invasive privacy measures are often sufficient.

While Lockdown Mode strengthens your phone’s defenses, it’s only one layer of protection. Your privacy also depends on how your mobile network handles your data. If you want to reinforce security without sacrificing usability, switch to a mobile carrier that prioritizes privacy.

Many carriers have raised privacy concerns due to data-sharing practices and frequent breaches that expose user information. A privacy-first carrier like Cape focuses on protecting user data through modern cryptography and minimal data collection practices.

Meet Cape: The Secure Carrier Designed for Today’s Threats

We share the most intimate details of our everyday lives with our cell phones. In order to stay connected, our cell phones share that information with local cell networks, and in turn, those cell networks share our data with each other.

While this system is what makes connectivity possible, it was also built with interoperability as its priority, rather than security. The global cell network is vulnerable to a number of threats, as seen through headlines about major carrier data breaches we see time and time again. When major carriers aren’t losing our sensitive personal data in breaches and hacks, they’re actively selling it to ad networks, data brokers, and third parties.

At Cape, we believe that privacy and security shouldn’t have to be sacrificed for connectivity. That’s why we built our service with privacy principles and security features at its core, including:

1. Minimal Data Collection

Cape eliminates the risk of your sensitive data falling into the wrong hands by not even asking for it. When you make your Cape account, we don’t ask for your name, address, or SSN. We only collect the information that’s necessary to provide the service, and we retain it for the least amount of time possible.

2. SIM Swap Protection

During account creation, you receive a unique 24-word phrase that generates a private key tied to your phone number. This pass phrase is required to move your number to a new device or carrier. Nobody else, not even us at Cape, has access to the phrase, meaning there’s absolutely no way for bad actors to transfer your number to their device, effectively nullifying the possibility of SIM swapping.

3. Disappearing Call Logs

Your phone stores an incredible amount of data, which can be accessed through call and text records. Most mobile carriers store your call and text metadata for years, which can easily fall into the wrong hands.

Cape is built to forget, meaning we delete Call Data Records (CDRs) after just 1 day, ensuring nobody can see who you texted or called, track where the communication took place, or access the sensitive information within CDRs.

4. Identifier Rotation

All SIM cards are accompanied by International Mobile Subscriber IDs (IMSI). These function as unique identifiers devices use to register with cellular networks. Traditional telcos assign fixed IMSIs to user accounts, meaning the carriers, advertisers, hackers, and other bad actors can exploit them to identify and track your device.

Cape patches this security hole by allowing you to automatically rotate your IMSI every 24 hours. In practice, this means you appear as a different subscriber every day, making it much more difficult for anyone to identify your device or track your movements.

5. Secondary Numbers

Are you tired of spam messages from brands, phone call surveys, and scammers trying to trick you into sharing sensitive information over the phone? The reason why most people are exposed to these nuisances is that we are often required to share our phone numbers with retailers, websites, apps, and service providers.

While messages and phone calls can be annoying, what’s worse is that your number can easily become a target for data brokers and bad actors. That’s why many people turn to VoIP numbers as secondary lines. VoIPs are a decent option, but they don’t fully solve the issue—they are not encrypted, you can’t use them for 2FA, and they’re an additional cost each month.

When you sign up for Cape, you get two free additional SMS/MMS lines that are middle-to-end encrypted. This allows you to use Secondary Numbers for online shopping, signing up for services and discounts, and receiving secure OTPs, while your primary phone number is reserved for friends and family.

6. Network Lock

Traditional cellular networks were designed for interoperability, not security. Outdated and legacy network protocols like SS7 have vulnerabilities that allow attackers to hack in and track your location, intercept your calls and texts, and steal sensitive information.

Cape’s Network Lock uses a proprietary signaling proxy to verify that your device’s physical location matches the network it’s trying to attach to. If anything looks suspicious, like a mismatched location, we block the connection.

7. Encrypted Voicemail

Voicemails can reveal more than you think, from personal messages to authentication codes, yet most voicemail systems are outdated and unencrypted.

Cape encrypts your voicemails so that only you can access them.

8. Secure Global Roaming

To access phone service while traveling abroad, your phone typically needs to connect to local telecom providers. The trouble is, there’s no guarantee all networks are secure, and not every government treats privacy the same.

Cape doesn’t leave anything to chance. We let you route traffic through our U.S.-based mobile core, so you can safely use international data roaming without exposing your identity or sharing sensitive data or communications with foreign carriers.

With Cape, you get up to 15 GB per month of international roaming, included in your monthly plan.

Cape Safeguards Against Law Enforcement or Government Data Requests

Cape approaches data requests from law enforcement and government agencies the same way Apple approaches Lockdown Mode: by limiting the attack surface so there’s very little data available in the first place.

As a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), we comply with all legitimate requests but also take every reasonable step to protect you from data misuse or overreach. We safeguard your privacy by retaining only the minimum subscriber data necessary to provide a service, so the information we can share under such requests is inherently limited. You can read our privacy policy for more details.

Additionally, if the law allows, we notify the subscriber of such requests so they can review and challenge the order if necessary. However, if the law/court order prohibits us from notifying the subscriber, we review the request carefully and push back if it’s too broad or exceeds what can be lawfully requested.

To date, we haven’t received any government request that imposed a nondisclosure obligation.

Get Started With Cape Today

If you’re ready to make a switch from legacy telcos to America's privacy-first mobile carrier, visit cape.co/get-cape.

In addition to all the features listed above, you can further enhance your privacy and security with Proton. Our partnership with this technology leader allows you to get Proton Unlimited or Proton VPN Plus for only $1 for the first six months.

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