With iOS 17.5, Apple is introducing the new “Repair Mode” feature, which allows an iPhone for repair without forcing the user to disable Find My and Activation Lock.
The latest beta version of iOS 17.5, released today, introduces the “Remove Device” feature from Find My, enabling the implementation of the new “Repair Mode” on any iPhone.
Read more: Apple releases third beta of iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5
Currently, in order to send an iPhone to Apple for repair, you must turn off Find My. Apple says it may not be able to repair devices with this feature. Disabling Find My also disables Activation Lock, a valuable security feature that prevents another Apple ID from using your iPhone, providing significant protection against theft.
Apple now uses Find My and Activation Lock to ensure that the rightful owner is the one sending a device in for repair, while also ensuring that the device is not stolen. An iPhone without Find My turned on that is sent in for repair cannot be located and is not protected against theft. This means that if it is lost or stolen while being transported for repair, there is no way to recover it. Disabling Find My presents the problem of reduced protection against device theft, with the complicated process of waiting for the device to be deactivated causing inconvenience during repairs.
The new repair process keeps Find My enabled, ensuring that Activation Lock remains active, allowing the iPhone to continue to be located through the Find My app throughout the repair process. During this process, the device being repaired is marked “Ready for Repair” and remains fully functional.
In the device list, an iPhone that is undergoing repair is marked with a stethoscope icon, but despite its repair status, the iPhone remains fully functional.
Currently, the “Remove this device” option through Find My to enable repair mode appears to be available only for iPhones. If you try to use this option for other products, such as an iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch, you’ll see a warning that the device will be removed from your Apple ID account, allowing someone else to use it.
See also: iOS 17.5: Adds the word game "Quartiles" for Apple News+ subscribers
It's important to note that for the repair mode option to appear , the iPhone must be connected and located via Find My. An iPhone that is offline will only show the standard removal message. Also, it's worth noting that it's not possible to turn off repair mode at this time.
Source: macrumors
