Apple is working on a new option to more thoroughly wipe an iPhone’s storage when erasing the device, but there’s a catch. Here are the details.
New feature exclusive to Chinese devices
References included in today’s iOS 27.2 beta 1 point to a new iPhone erasing option that will let the user overwrite the device’s entire storage with blank data, including storage that isn’t actively in use.
In addition to erasing the iPhone’s data, the feature can overwrite the device’s entire storage with blank data, including storage that isn’t actively in use. Apple warns that the process may take longer than a standard erase and could affect the device’s lifespan.
The move is interesting, as currently, when a user erases an iPhone, the device’s encryption keys are destroyed, effectively rendering the remaining data inaccessible. In fact, Apple is very clear about this in an Apple Platform Deployment support article:
On the device, erasing (or wiping) obliterates all the keys in effaceable storage and renders all user data cryptographically inaccessible.
While digging through today’s beta, 9to5Mac confirmed that, as currently implemented, the feature will only be available on iPhone models sold in China, where Apple appears to be adding it to comply with an upcoming data-erasure requirement.
That’s because a new Chinese standard taking effect on January 1, 2027, will require smartphones and other electronic devices to offer a way to more thoroughly erase stored data, including through methods such as overwriting it.
For semiconductor storage, such as the flash storage used in smartphones, one approved method involves overwriting storage containing user data at least once with meaningless data. That closely matches Apple’s description of replacing storage with blank data.
Finally, the new erasing option won’t be exclusive to iPhones, as code references also point to support for other devices, including the iPad, HomePod, and Apple Vision Pro.
To learn more about China’s upcoming GB 46864-2025 standard, follow this link.
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