Serious question. If I am re-entering the US after traveling abroad, can customs legally ask me to turn the phone back on and/or seize my phone? I am a US citizen.
Out of habit, I keep my phone off during the flight and turn it on after clearing customs.
If you are a US citizen, you legally cannot be denied re-entry into the country for any reason, including not unlocking your phone. They can make it really annoying and detain you for a while, though.
my understanding is that they can hold you for a couple days without charges for your insubordination but as a citizen they have to let you back into the country or officially arrest you, try to get an actual warrant, etc.
Did you know that on most models of iPhone, saying "Hey Siri, who's iPhone is this?" will disable biometric authentication until the passcode is entered?
In case anyone is wondering: In newer versions of MacOS, the user must log out to require a password. Locking screen no longer requires password if Touch ID is enabled.
Everyone makes this same comment on each of these threads, but it's important to remember this only works if you have some sort of advance warning. If you have the iPhone in your hand and there is a loaded gun pointed at your head telling you not to move, you probably won't want to move.
Or squeeze the power and volume buttons for a couple of seconds. It’s good to practice both these gestures so that they become reflex, rather than trying to remember them when they’re needed.
Sad, neither of those works on Android. Pressing the power button activates the emergency call screen with a countdown to call emergency services, and power + volume either just takes a screenshot or enables vibrations/haptics depending on which volume button you press.
Did you check your phone settings? Mine has an option to add it to the power menu, so you get to it by whichever method you use to do that (which itself is sad that phones are starting to differ in what the power key does).
This is the third person advocating button squeezing, as a reminder: IF a gun is on you the jig is up, you can be shot for resisting or reaching for a potential weapon. Wireless detonators do exist, don't f around please.
Serious question. If I am re-entering the US after traveling abroad, can customs legally ask me to turn the phone back on and/or seize my phone? I am a US citizen.
Out of habit, I keep my phone off during the flight and turn it on after clearing customs.
If you are a US citizen, you legally cannot be denied re-entry into the country for any reason, including not unlocking your phone. They can make it really annoying and detain you for a while, though.
They can also practically keep your phone indefinitely.
my understanding is that they can hold you for a couple days without charges for your insubordination but as a citizen they have to let you back into the country or officially arrest you, try to get an actual warrant, etc.
they can just break the law
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Did you know that on most models of iPhone, saying "Hey Siri, who's iPhone is this?" will disable biometric authentication until the passcode is entered?
hm. didn't work on my 17 pro :( might be due to a setting i have.
They disabled that in like iOS 18.
In case anyone is wondering: In newer versions of MacOS, the user must log out to require a password. Locking screen no longer requires password if Touch ID is enabled.
Is that actually true? I'm fairly confident my work Mac requires a password if it's idle more than a few days (typically over the weekend).
Settings -> lock screen -> “Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off”
Even with that option set to "Immediately" you can still use Touch ID after locking.
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Shift+Option+Command+Q is your fastest route there, but unsaved work will block.
Everyone makes this same comment on each of these threads, but it's important to remember this only works if you have some sort of advance warning. If you have the iPhone in your hand and there is a loaded gun pointed at your head telling you not to move, you probably won't want to move.
Or squeeze the power and volume buttons for a couple of seconds. It’s good to practice both these gestures so that they become reflex, rather than trying to remember them when they’re needed.
Sad, neither of those works on Android. Pressing the power button activates the emergency call screen with a countdown to call emergency services, and power + volume either just takes a screenshot or enables vibrations/haptics depending on which volume button you press.
On Pixel phones, Power + Volume Up retrieves a menu where you can select "Lockdown".
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Did you check your phone settings? Mine has an option to add it to the power menu, so you get to it by whichever method you use to do that (which itself is sad that phones are starting to differ in what the power key does).
Oh wow, just going into the "should I shutdown" menu also goes into pre-boot lock state? I didn't know that.
It doesn't reenter a BFU state, but it requires a passcode for the next unlock.
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Alternately, hold the power button and either volume button together for a few seconds.
This is the third person advocating button squeezing, as a reminder: IF a gun is on you the jig is up, you can be shot for resisting or reaching for a potential weapon. Wireless detonators do exist, don't f around please.