A new feature in iOS 17.5 will allow you to submit your iPhone for repair without turning off Find My and Activation Lock. Apple added a new Repair State mode in iOS 17.5 beta 4 for this.
Currently, you must turn off the security feature on your iPhone before submitting it for repair. Failure to do so could prevent Apple technicians from repairing your device.
Submit your iPhone for repair with Find My enabled
Disabling Find My becomes even more complicated if you have Stolen Device Protection enabled. Due to the additional security measures, you cannot turn off Find My for an hour if your iPhone is in an unfamiliar location. This can be frustrating, especially when you are traveling and need to submit your device for an urgent repair.
Screenshots: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple aims to solve this problem with Repair State, allowing you to submit your iPhone with Find My enabled. A MacRumors report details how the feature will work.
To enable Repair State, you must remove the device from the Find My app. This will automatically bring up a prompt about enabling the feature. After this, you enter your Apple ID login credentials and confirm your identity using Face ID or Touch ID.
Avoid enabling Repair State on your iPhone for now
Once enabled, your iPhone will show a “Ready for Repair” label, though it will remain usable. You can then submit the device for repair without issues. This will ensure you can track your iPhone’s location if it’s lost or misplaced during transit. A stethoscope icon in the Find My app will appear beside the iPhone in Repair State.
While you can utilize Repair State on the latest iOS 17.5 beta, you should avoid doing so, as there is no way to turn off the security feature. Once enabled, only Apple technicians might be able to turn off Repair State after completing the repair.
