Introduction
iOS 17 Safety Check brings a host of new features and updates to iPhones, including the new Use iOS 17Safety Check tool. Safety Check allows users to quickly review and reset access they’ve granted to others, helpful in situations like ending a relationship or when an iPhone is lost or stolen.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to Use iOS 17 Safety Check , including how to review device access, reset permissions and data access, and use Emergency Reset. We’ll also cover the Check In feature in Messages for sharing your location with selected contacts. Follow along below to learn how to use these new safety features in iOS 17.
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Prerequisites
To use Safety Check on iOS 17, you need:
- An iPhone running iOS 16 or later
- An Apple ID using two-factor authentication
- To be signed in to Settings > [Your Name] on your iPhone
The Check In feature in Messages requires:
- An iPhone running iOS 17 or later
- The latest version of Messages
How To Use Safety Check
Safety Check allows you to review and reset access you’ve granted others to your accounts, location data, and more. Here are the steps to use it:
Access the Safety Check Screen
- Open Settings and tap on your name at the top of the screen.
- Select “Privacy & Security”.
Tap on “Safety Check”.
You’ll now see the main Safety Check screen.
Review and Remove Device Access
On the Safety Check screen, you can see and manage devices that are signed in to your iCloud account. This allows you to identify any unknown or unauthorized access.
To review and remove devices:
- Under “Review Devices Signed Into Your Account”, look over the list of devices.
- Tap any device to see details like the login date and location.
- To remove a device’s access, tap “Remove Device” and then confirm.
Reset Permissions and Data Access
You may have granted app permissions to access your contacts, photos, camera, microphone, or location data. Safety Check allows you to easily reset these permissions.
To reset app permissions:
- Under “Manage Access To Your Information”, tap “Review Shared Permissions”.
- For each app, toggle the sliders to turn off access to contacts, photos, camera, microphone, or location.
- Tap “Done” to confirm your changes. Access will be immediately reset.
You can also see which third-party services have access to your account data like calendars, reminders, photos, or email.
To reset account data access:
- Under “Manage Access To Your Information”, tap “Review Shared Account Access”.
- For each service, tap “Remove Access” to block further data access.
Use Emergency Reset
If you feel your iPhone is compromised, you can perform an Emergency Reset to immediately reset permissions and cut off access.
To perform an Emergency Reset:
- At the bottom of the Safety Check screen, tap “Emergency Reset”.
- Confirm that you want to perform a reset by tapping “Continue”.
Emergency Reset will sign you out of iCloud on your device, reset privacy permissions for apps, and limit sharing. Your Apple ID password will also be reset, so be sure you still have access to a trusted secondary device or recovery phone number.
This provides a clean slate and secures your account in just a few taps if needed. You can then review and re-enable sharing as desired.
How To Use Check In With Messages
iOS 17 introduces Check In, a new safety feature in Messages. Check In allows you to easily share your location with selected contacts on a temporary basis.
Here are the steps to use Check In on iOS 17:
Open a Conversation
- Launch the Messages app.
- Open the conversation with the contact you want to Check In with. This can be an individual or group conversation.
Initiate a Check In
- Tap the “+” button next to the text input field.
- Select the Check In icon that appears (it looks like a location pin).
- Choose the contact(s) you want to share your location with.
- Tap “Check In” to initiate location sharing.
The Check In screen will appear with your location on a map. Your selected recipients will be notified that you have Checked In.
Choose a Check In Duration
When you initate a Check In, you can choose how long you want to share your location:
- One hour
- Until end of day
- Indefinitely
Tap the “More” icon and adjust the Check In duration as needed.
End a Check In Early
To end location sharing before the Check In duration ends:
- Open the Check In screen in Messages.
- Tap “Stop Sharing My Location”.
Location access will immediately end for all recipients.
The Check In feature makes it easy to give selected contacts visibility into your location for a set period of time, for instance when walking home alone or traveling. It provides peace of mind without having to keep constant contact.
Safety Check and Check In: FAQ
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Safety Check and Check In features:
How is Safety Check different from just changing my iCloud password?
Safety Check looks at the bigger privacy and security picture. It lets you review and reset app permissions, shared data access, and device logins to your account – not just your password.
Can I restore access after using Emergency Reset?
Yes, after using Emergency Reset you can re-enable sharing and access in Settings and app permissions. Just be aware it completely resets everything as a safety precaution.
Do I need to have location services enabled to use Check In?
Yes, you need to have location services enabled globally or for Messages to share your real-time location using Check In. It will prompt you to enable location if needed.
Can Check In be used in group conversations?
Yes! You can initiate a Check In with multiple recipients in group Messages threads. The duration and end time will be the same for all participants.
Is my location constantly shared during a Check In?
No, your location is updated periodically to balance privacy and utility. Exact location markers are not visible – recipients see your general vicinity.
Do I need to have the Messages app open for Check In to work?
No. After initiating a Check In, you can close Messages and your location will still be shared in the background until the Check In duration ends.
Conclusion
iOS 17 provides powerful new tools to control account access, app permissions, data sharing, and location privacy. With Safety Check, you can quickly audit and reset access granted through your Apple ID. Check In allows convenient temporary location sharing with trusted contacts from Messages.
Be sure to update and explore these features, especially Safety Check, to ensure your iPhone remains secure. Perform regular device access reviews and don’t hesitate to use Emergency Reset if you notice any unauthorized access or lost devices.
Let us know if you have any other questions! We hope this guide helps you use Safety Check and Check In to their full potential.
Table on Safety Check and Check In Features
| Feature | Safety Check | Check In |
| Purpose | Review and reset account/data access | Temporary location sharing |
| Setup Required | Signed into iCloud account | iOS 17, Messages app |
| How to Use | Open Safety Check in Settings app | Tap Check In in Messages conversation |
| Controls Access to | Device logins, app permissions, shared data | Your real-time location |
| Allows You to | See and remove account access, reset app permissions and data sharing | Choose who to share location with and for how long |
| Key Benefit | Regain control over account and data privacy | Safety via location sharing with trusted contacts |