Lockdown Mode on Apple Products Has Never Been Hacked, Company Confirms

Publication Date: 29.03.2026

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This month, iPhone security is in the spotlight as Apple closes known vulnerabilities. The company warned iPhone users running outdated software to update this week. Meanwhile, Apple officially states that Lockdown Mode has been effective against hacking attempts to date.

iPhones in Lockdown Mode Have Never Been Hacked

In 2022, Apple introduced Lockdown Mode on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple describes Lockdown Mode as "a protection against extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyberattacks."

Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection method designed for a very small number of individuals who may be personally targeted due to who they are or what they do. Most people are not targeted by such attacks.

When Lockdown Mode is enabled, your device will not function as it normally would. To reduce the attack surface that could potentially be exploited by highly targeted commercial spyware, certain apps, websites, and features are strictly limited for security purposes, and some experiences may not be available at all.

You can see how Lockdown Mode changes the way your iPhone, iPad, and Mac operate here. The three most notable changes are:

Messages: Most types of message attachments are blocked, except for certain images, videos, and sounds. Some features, such as links and link previews, are not available.
Web Browsing: Some complex web technologies are blocked, which may cause some websites to load more slowly or not function correctly. Additionally, web fonts may not display, and images may be replaced with a broken image icon.
Wireless Connectivity: Your device will not automatically join unsecured Wi-Fi networks and will disconnect from an unsecured Wi-Fi network when you enable Lockdown Mode. 2G and 3G cellular support has been disabled for iPhone and iPad.

Lockdown Mode is a dramatic change in how the system operates, but it is an effective tool for users at higher risk of being targeted by spyware.

Apple told TechCrunch that there has been no known instance of a device with Lockdown Mode enabled being hacked:

“We have no information about a successful commercial spyware attack against an Apple device with Lockdown Mode enabled,” Apple spokesperson Sarah O’Rourke told TechCrunch on Friday.

Meanwhile, Apple is warning iPhone users running outdated iOS versions that critical security updates are available. Devices that cannot be updated to the latest software for any reason can use Lockdown Mode as a precautionary measure.