New iPhone Checklist: 10 Settings to Protect Your Phone from Day One

Just unboxed your iPhone 17? Lock in the essentials now so you’re protected before anything goes wrong. Below is a fast, 10-setting checklist that covers theft protection, recovery, emergency readiness, backups, battery health, spam control, and privacy. Do these once and you’re set.

Keep it protected physically, too—without bulk.
Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 Case

1) Turn on Find My (and the offline network)

Settings → [your name] → Find My → Find My iPhone
Enable Find My iPhone, Find My network, and Send Last Location. If your phone is lost or powered down, this is how you track it and flag it as lost. (Apple Support)

2) Enable Stolen Device Protection

Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Stolen Device Protection
This adds an extra biometric check (no passcode fallback) before anyone can perform sensitive actions if they know your passcode—like changing your Apple Account password or turning off Find My. Turn it on. (Apple Support)

3) Strengthen your passcode (+ auto-erase on 10 fails)

Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Change Passcode → Passcode Options
Choose a custom alphanumeric or, at minimum, a 6-digit code. Then scroll down and enable Erase Data after 10 failed attempts. (Apple Support)

4) Set up Emergency SOS (and try the satellite demo)

Settings → Emergency SOS → Try Demo
Review your SOS options and try the Emergency SOS via satellite demo so you know how it works off-grid. Pair this with emergency contacts (next step) so responders get what they need. (Apple Support)

5) Create your Medical ID + add Emergency Contacts

Open Health → your profile → Medical ID → Edit
Add allergies, conditions, and emergency contacts so first responders see it from the Lock Screen. These contacts also get alerted when you trigger SOS. (Apple Support)

6) Turn on iCloud Backup

Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up This iPhone
Your phone will auto-backup daily when plugged in, locked, and on Wi-Fi (or cellular if supported). Do a Back Up Now once after setup. (Apple Support)

7) Optimize battery health

Settings → Battery → Charging (label may vary)
Enable Optimized Battery Charging (and Charge Limit features where available) to reduce time at 100% and improve long-term battery lifespan. (Apple Support, Apple)

8) Cut spam calls without missing real ones

Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers (and Call Blocking & Identification)
Unknown numbers go straight to voicemail (they still appear in Recents). Pair with your carrier’s spam identification in Call Blocking & Identification. Save legit numbers to Contacts. (Apple Support)

9) Lock down ad tracking prompts

Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking
Use App Tracking Transparency to choose whether apps can track you across other apps and sites. Most users should leave tracking off by default. (Apple Support)

10) Protect email privacy (Mail Privacy Protection + Hide My Email)

Settings → Mail → Privacy Protection → Protect Mail Activity;
Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Hide My Email (iCloud+ required)
Hide your IP/open data from senders and use masked addresses when signing up for services. (Apple Support)

Bonus (nice to have)

• Require Face ID for purchases: Settings → [your name] → Media & Purchases → Password Settings (or enable Face ID for iTunes & App Store). (Apple Support)

• High-risk users: Consider Lockdown Mode under Settings → Privacy & Security (very restrictive; only if you face sophisticated threats). (Apple Support)

Two-minute physical protection stack (pairs with these settings)

• Ultra-thin case with raised lips (screen + camera) — protects from flat-surface scuffs while keeping the phone slim.

• Tempered-glass screen protector — a sacrificial layer for scratches/taps.

• Optional lens protector if you spend time around sand/gravel.

Keep the feel you love—skip the repairs.
Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 Case

FAQs

Will SOS via satellite work everywhere?
Coverage varies by region; check Apple’s availability list and use the Try Demo to practice before you’re off-grid. (Apple Support)

Do I really need Stolen Device Protection if I use Face ID?
Yes—this specifically protects high-risk changes (account/password, Find My, etc.) when a thief knows your passcode. It requires biometric approval even if they have the code. (Apple Support)

How often should I review these settings?
Do a quick check after major iOS updates or when traveling. Re-confirm Find My, iCloud Backup, and SOS/Medical ID details annually. (Apple Support)