Confirmed — Feb 2026FBI seized a Washington Post reporter's iPhone and could not get in. Court records show Lockdown Mode blocked access. This is the first confirmed court-documented case of the feature stopping federal law enforcement. Source: 404 Media / court records.
Apple's Lockdown Mode Stopped the FBI. Here's How to Turn It On.
A Washington Post reporter's phone was seized by federal agents in January 2026. Court records confirm the FBI was unable to access the device. The reason: Lockdown Mode was enabled. This is what it does, who it's for, and exactly how to activate it — in three taps.
Zero successful spyware attacks reported since 2022 launchFirst court-confirmed FBI block — Feb 2026iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple WatchiOS 16+ · macOS Ventura+
What Happened — February 2026
FBI Raided a Reporter's Home. The Phone Stopped Them Cold.
In January 2026, FBI agents raided the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of a leak investigation involving classified information. They seized multiple devices. Court records filed in February show that the FBI was able to access some devices — but not her iPhone. The reason documented in the court record: her phone was in Lockdown Mode. The FBI's inability to extract data from the device was documented in filings about what evidence was and was not available.
This is the first publicly documented, court-confirmed instance of Lockdown Mode blocking federal law enforcement access to a device. Apple has previously stated that no device running Lockdown Mode has been successfully compromised by mercenary spyware. The FBI case shows the feature works against the government's own forensic tools as well.
Won't auto-join unsecured Wi-Fi — no more connecting to open networks automatically
Some network protocols and services restricted
📱FaceTime & Invitations
Incoming FaceTime blocked unless you've previously called that person (or called them in the last 30 days)
Apple service invitations blocked from new contacts
Game Center and Home app invitations disabled
📷Photos & Sharing
Location stripped from shared photos automatically
Shared Albums removed from Photos app
New Shared Album invitations blocked
Your existing photos are unaffected — just sharing metadata changes
How to Enable It — Step by Step
Three taps on iPhone. You need iOS 16 or later. The phone restarts. You need your passcode to turn it on and off.
📱iPhone & iPadRequires iOS 16 / iPadOS 16 or later
1
Open Settings
The grey gear icon on your home screen.
2
Tap Privacy & Security
Scroll down — it's below General, below Display & Brightness. Has a hand icon.
3
Scroll to the bottom — tap Lockdown Mode
It's in the "Security" section at the very bottom of Privacy & Security. The path is:
Settings›Privacy & Security›Lockdown Mode
4
Tap "Turn On Lockdown Mode"
Apple shows you a summary of what changes. Read it. Then tap Turn On Lockdown Mode again to confirm.
5
Tap "Turn On & Restart" — enter your passcode
The phone restarts and Lockdown Mode is active. A banner appears in Safari confirming it's on. Your Apple Watch (if paired) also automatically enables Lockdown Mode.
💻MacRequires macOS Ventura (13) or later
1
Apple Menu → System Settings
Click the Apple logo (🍎) in the top-left corner of your screen. Select System Settings.
2
Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar
Scroll down the left sidebar. The path is:
🍎 Apple Menu›System Settings›Privacy & Security›Lockdown Mode
3
Scroll down — click Lockdown Mode → Turn On
Confirm, enter your user password, and the Mac restarts with Lockdown Mode active. Note: must be enabled separately on iPhone, iPad, and Mac — they don't sync automatically except for Apple Watch.
To Turn It Off
Same path: Settings → Privacy & Security → Lockdown Mode → Turn Off Lockdown Mode. Phone restarts. You need your passcode. You can turn it on and off as many times as you want — it's not permanent.
Android Users
Android 16 Has a Similar Feature: Advanced Protection
Android's equivalent is called Advanced Protection and provides comparable hardening — blocking sideloading, restricting 2G, limiting USB connections, and more. It's not the same implementation, but addresses similar threat vectors.
Honest accounting of what changes. Most users who've enabled it report the friction is manageable.
You Probably Won't Notice
Normal calls and texts — fully functional
Most apps work fine — email, maps, calendar, social media
Photos, camera, video — fully functional
App Store, Apple Pay — unaffected
Most websites load normally (can whitelist exceptions)
iCloud sync — fully functional
You Will Notice These
File attachments in Messages won't work — PDFs, Word docs, etc.
Link previews gone from Messages — links appear as raw text
Some websites look different — web fonts disabled
FaceTime from new contacts blocked — they need to call you from a number you recognize
Can't plug phone into a computer while locked
SMS 2-factor autofill disabled — must type codes manually
Common Questions
Sources: 404 Media, Joseph Cox, “FBI Couldn't Get into WaPo Reporter's iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled,” Feb 4 2026 · Apple Support, “About Lockdown Mode” (support.apple.com/en-us/105120) · Apple Support, “Harden your devices with Lockdown Mode” · EFF Surveillance Self-Defense, “How to Enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone” · Bitdefender, “Apple's Lockdown Mode Explained,” Oct 2025 · TechRadar, “Apple says its iPhone Lockdown Mode has never been hacked,” Mar 2026 · MacRumors, “Enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone, iPad, and Mac,” Jan 2026