All iPhone users told to check their settings urgently - 'Do it now!'

A hidden feature on iPhones is helping millions of users protect their device from theft.

People with Apple’s iconic mobile are being told that changing one of their settings could prevent thieves from selling the phone in the future.

Choosing to disable access to the iPhone’s Control Centre when it’s locked leaves thieves unable to try to bypass the lock screen through the Airplane Mode.

The Control Centre is an easy way for people with iPhones to get to their WiFi, Bluetooth and other settings.

Users that have Face ID setup can swipe down on the right side of the screen to access the Control Centre, whereas those with Touch ID need to swipe up from the bottom.

To switch off access to the Control Centre when your iPhone is locked, simply go to the Settings and select Face ID/Touch ID & Passcode, then find Allow Access When Locked and switch off the option for Control Centre.

You can also switch off the USB Accessories option, which will stop thieves from connecting your iPhone via a USB to unlock it.

Apple Inc's stock market value shrank sharply on earlier this week following its steep drop last year, leaving it below $2 trillion for the first time since March 2021.

The sell-off came a year after the iPhone maker became the first company to reach the $3 trillion market capitalisation milestone.

Apple's shares declined 3.7% to $125.07 after Exane BNP Paribas analyst Jerome Ramel downgraded the company to "neutral" from "outperform," slashing his price target to $140 from $180, according to Refinitiv Eikon.

The drop in Apple's share price put its market capitalisation at $1.99 trillion.