GoKawiilMagnet Forensics builds tool to counter iPhone's 72-hour auto-reboot lock
Magnet Forensics, maker of the GrayKey phone-unlocking devices used by law enforcement, has developed GrayKey Preserve and an Evidence Preservation Mode feature, according to a leaked video obtained by 404 Media. The tools are designed to freeze seized iPhones before Apple's inactivity reboot—which locks down a phone after 72 hours unused—kicks in, and to prevent automatic deletion of data like cached locations and recently removed photos or messages.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The development illustrates an ongoing back-and-forth between Apple's security protections and forensic companies that sell unlocking tools to police worldwide, including in countries with weaker civil-liberties protections. Law enforcement had reportedly complained that Apple's reboot feature hampered investigations when devices sit unprocessed due to legal delays or backlogs, suggesting demand for workarounds like Magnet's will persist as Apple continues hardening iOS security.
- Magnet Forensics created GrayKey Preserve and Evidence Preservation Mode to bypass Apple's inactivity reboot feature.
- Apple's reboot feature, introduced quietly in iOS and revealed by 404 Media in November 2024, locks phones after 72 hours of inactivity.
- The tools also aim to stop automatic deletion of cached data such as locations, photos, and messages before extraction.
Apple iPhone privacy Lockdown accessory: USB-C data blocker — Given growing concerns about phone forensic tools bypassing protections, a USB data blocker is a smart accessory for anyone charging their iPhone in public places, preventing unwanted data access through the port. It's a simple, inexpensive way to add a layer of physical security to your device alongside software protections.》..
See Apple iPhone privacy Lockdown accessory: USB-C data blocker on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: 404media.co — Oct, 2026-10-01
Published there as: “Cops Can Bypass iPhone's Automatic Reboot to Get into Locked Phones”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.