iOS 17.5 Brings New ‘Repair State’ to Keep Find My On During iPhone Repairs

TL;DR: iOS 17.5 introduces “Repair State” mode, allowing users to keep Find My on when sending iPhones for repair. This simplifies the process and eliminates the need to disable Find My, which became complicated with iOS 17.3’s Stolen Device Protection.

When you need to send your iPhone for repair to Apple or an authorized centre, you currently have to turn off Find My First. This lets Apple know you own the iPhone and it’s not lost or stolen. However, iOS 17.5 introduces a new “Repair State” mode that eliminates the need to disable Find My before repairs.

iOS 17.5 Beta 4 Includes Repair State

9to5Mac discovered evidence of this new mode in the iOS 17.5 beta 4 codes, released on Tuesday to developers. The mode appears partially functional for beta users and alters the requirements for sending an iPhone for repairs.

Apple instructs users to turn off Find My in iOS Settings before taking their device for repair. But this process became more complicated with the introduction of Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3, which adds a time delay to change sensitive settings, including Find My.

Some customers were unaware of this and had to wait an hour at the Apple Store to disable Find My. iOS 17.5 aims to change that.

The new “Repair State” mode in iOS 17.5 beta allows users to confirm with their Apple ID and password that they’re sending their iPhone for repair. This enables Apple technicians to verify ownership and proceed with the repair without the need to disable Stolen Device Protection and Find My.

Avoid Enabling Repair State Unnecessarily

Beta users can now enable Repair State mode when attempting to remove their iPhone via the Find My app. A message reads, “This iPhone is linked to your Apple ID and cannot be removed while it’s online, but you can still prepare it for repair.” After that, a badge in the Find My app indicates that the iPhone is “ready for repair” and remains “fully functional.”

Currently, there’s no clear way to remove the device from Repair State. This could be because Apple has yet to add the option to the beta or because only Apple technicians will be able to confirm the successful completion of the repair and remove the device from this mode. As a precaution, avoid enabling Repair State for now.

The new mode should simplify the process of preparing an iPhone for repair, especially since some users were confused by the requirement to turn off Find My. It’s worth noting that Repair State is only available for iPhones, not iPads.

iOS 17.5 is a minor update focusing on new anti-stalking features and small design tweaks throughout the system. The update is expected to roll out to the public in May.

It’s a step forward.