You've probably arrived at this article because you've lost your iPhone, or even worse, think it might have been stolen. The good news is that Apple has software that can make information technology piece of cake to track downwards a lost iPhone, and if information technology has been stolen you tin use that software to wipe the iPhone and lock it downwards so that your data is protected.

In this tutorial we volition talk you through how to use Find My iPhone to find the location of your iPhone or iPad. (In fact you can also use the same software to locate your Apple tree Watch, AirPods or Mac.)

We also explain how you can still track the location of your iPhone even if the bombardment has died or information technology is no longer connecting to the internet. You can at present find a lost iPhone that is turned off thanks to a new feature in iOS thirteen, more on that below.

Finally, for situations when your iPhone has been stolen and cannot be recovered, we explain how to lock the iPhone, wipe your data and make certain that services like Apple tree Pay tin't be used.

What not to do

What you should never do is attempt to retrieve your iPhone if yous think it has fallen into the wrong hands. There have been cases of people attempting to recover stolen iPhones using Find My iPhone and being injure, or worse.

There was even a case of a UK man tracking down and killing the person who stole his son's iPhone. (He claimed he lashed out in self defence after being stabbed by the mugger, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, and was jailed for six years.)

Even so, you lot might be able to use the data provided by Find My iPhone to aid the police with their enquiries. There is a department below that explains how to do this.

1. Ping your iPhone

The simplest method to find an iPhone, if y'all've got a paired Apple Watch or an HomePod, is to tell those devices to ping the iPhone for y'all.

On your Apple Sentinel, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring upwardly the Control Center. On the lefthand side you'll meet an icon of an iPhone with curved lines emanating from it: this is the ping button. Tap it.

How to find a lost iPhone: Ping from an Apple Watch

At this signal the iPhone which is paired with this Apple Watch, bold it's reachable, volition 'ding' and then you can hear where it is. Go on pinging the telephone until you find it.

Yous'll be able to apply the same feature on a HomePod as long as you take installed the software update released on 17 September 2018. Just tell your HomePod "Hey Siri where's my iPhone?" If the iPhone is close, in response Siri will hopefully say, "I found [proper noun'south] iPhone near by, should I brand it play a sound?"

ii. Use Find My iPhone

Find My iPhone is a free service provided by Apple tree. Information technology is easy to prepare, and quite perchance the most valuable app on your iPhone (as of iOS 13 the app is called Find My, the app was previoiusly called Find iPhone). The Find My service as well works for your iPad, Apple tree Watch and Mac, so you can go on track of all your Apple tree devices.

Assuming yous've already gear up up Find My iPhone, your iPhone will be able to circulate its location to you. So y'all can use another iOS device or just visit iCloud.com on a Mac or PC to find information technology.

Whether yous've left your iPhone in the back of a cab, call back you might accept left it in the office, or, worst-instance scenario, it's been lifted from your pocket, you should exist able to use Find My iPhone to rail it down, equally long as you lot prepare upwardly Find My in the get-go place. Chances are y'all will accept set it up when you first started using your iPhone so information technology's worth checking whether you can use the service. Nosotros have a guide to setting up Observe My iPhone at the terminate of the article.

Assuming you have Find My iPhone ready, here'due south how to utilize the Find My app to observe your iPhone.

What y'all will need to use Detect My iPhone

  • You volition either demand to ask a friend if you lot can borrow their iOS device, or use some other iOS device yous ain. Alternatively, y'all can use a Mac or a PC to log on to the service.
  • If the iPhone or iPad is running iOS 13, locate the Detect My app. On earlier versions of the operating system the app is called Find iPhone.
  • If yous don't have an iOS device avaialble, visit iCloud.com on a Mac or PC and log onto your iCloud account there.
  • You volition need to have registered your iPhone for the Find My service.

How to employ Find My on your own iPhone or iPad

Find My App

Here's how to runway your iPhone using the Find My app (iOS thirteen)

  1. If you're using an iOS device, locate the Find My app. (Drag down from the summit of the screen and type 'Observe:' you should come across Find My in the Applications section (ame icon every bit above).
  2. Click on that icon to open Find My. Now enter your Apple ID and Password - this will be the login you apply whenever y'all buy anything from the App Store or iTunes, or when logging on to any other Apple services. Yous volition have gear up an Apple ID when you lot got your starting time Apple tree device. (Retentiveness lapse? Here's how to reset a forgotten Apple ID.)
  3. Tap on Devices (Find My at present includes a section for finding People, which was previously the Discover My Friend'due south app).
  4. A map will appear showing your location and any device that are with yous. Yous could look at your home or work addresses to see devices that are at those locations. Find My iPhone
  5. Find the device you want to track in the list of devices you take registered for the service and tap on it.
  6. At present (if you are lucky) you will see the location of the lost device on a map, including a number of options: Play Audio, Directions, Notifications, Mark as Lost, and Erase This Device. Hopefully you volition merely run across that you left your iPhone at home, or in the office. You tin can then Play a Sound and discover it under the motorcar seat, or become directions to go and chase for it in the park. (We don't advise going to chase for a stolen iPhone - don't put yourself in whatever danger!) Find My iPhone Options
  7. Altenatively you might take left it on a motorcoach, in which case you lot might see the location of the iPhone only find that it is changing. In which case you should choose the Mark As Lost option.
  8. The Mark Equally Lost option is besides the one to use if the iPhone or iPad isn't at any location you know, or if it's not showing any location. Afterward chooseing Mark As Lost yous will then get option to provide contact information for the person who finds your lost device, which should assist them render it to you. Y'all will need to enter a phone number that tin exist used to contact you on. You'll also get the option to enter bulletin, and then that y'all tin can show a message on the device to the person who finds it. Apple tree suggests the words: "This iPhone has been lost. Delight call me". Once yous have completed these steps tap on Activate. Mark as Lost iPhone
  9. If you aren't so lucky and your iPhone can't exist located, you will also see the choice to Notify When Found equally well every bit Erase This Device. Cull notify When Institute if you all the same accept a glimmer of promise that you volition get your iPhone (or iPad) back.
  10. Or in a worst-case scenario, choose Erase your iPhone so your information can't fall into the wrong easily

Here's how to runway your iPhone using the Discover iPhone app (pre-iOS xiii)

  1. If you're using an iOS device, locate and open the Find iPhone app.
  2. Enter your Apple ID and Password.
  3. Yous will come across a compass and the word Locating on the screen of the device as the iPhone tracks the location of your devices.
  4. You lot may see a few options, such equally allowing Find My iPhone to know your location and turning on Send Last Location. We suggest you agree to both of these options. (More on the latter in the side by side section.)
  5. Side by side you lot will see a map indicating the locations of your various devices, below the map is a listing of your devices. find iphone ios 12
  6. Either scroll Tap on the map to zoom in closer to the location of your 'lost' device, or find the device in the list below the map.
  7. Now that you've located the device, tap on information technology, and you will run across you accept a few options. You can play a sound, for instance: useful if you've lost your iPhone at habitation somewhere (and had the sound turned off then calling it wasn't working). find iphone options ios 12
  8. Depending on the age of the iPhone and the iOS version you tin either switch your iPhone into Lost Mode, which will lock it downward and transmit its location (more on Lost Way beneath); or for older iPhones, Lock, which will lock the iPhone and notify you when information technology's found.
  9. Or in a worst-case scenario, you can Erase your iPhone so your data can't autumn into the wrong hands.
  10. Once you're done, sign out of Find My iPhone on your friend's device.

How to use Find My on a friend'southward iPhone or iPad

If y'all don't have an iOS device handy to search for your iPhone using the Detect My app, but you practice take a friend with an iPhone, hither's what to do:

Note: In iOS 13 you lot will demand to use iCloud to locate the lost iPhone from another person's iPhone. Pre iOS xiii you could but log out of their account and log in to your account using their iPhone, in which case, you can follow the steps in the previous department.

  1. Open the Detect My app on their device (if they are using iOS xiii). If they aren't using iOS 13 you can just log out of the app and log in as yourself).
  2. Tap in the Me section.
  3. Choose Help a Friend (this is a new addition in iOS 13.1 so if you aren't seeing that, brand sure the software is up to engagement).
  4. iCloud will open up - but you will take to sign in with your Apple ID. This could exist problematic if you have to corroborate the log on using ii cistron authentication and don't have another Apple tree device to do and so with.
  5. Once in you will run across a map with the location of your diverse devices on it. Tap on the device you have lost and choose from the options: Play Sound, Lost Manner and Erase iPhone.

Find my iphone on another iphone

Find my iPhone using iCloud.com

The same goes if you are attempting to track a lost iPhone using a Mac or PC. You can log onto iCloud and access the Find My service there.

  1. On a Mac or PC, visit iCloud.com.
  2. Log on using your Apple ID and Countersign. Yous may also accept to use two factor identification to prove it's you, which could prove tricky if you don't accept a device bachelor that is registered to you to approve it on and receive the six digit code.
  3. Once y'all are in, click on Find iPhone. (This will really find all your registered Apple devices.)
  4. Sign in again with your password and wait for your devices to be located.
  5. Located devices will be indicated by a green dot on the map.
  6. Click on the dark-green dot, then the (i) beside the device name. This will zoom into the location of your device and let you Play Sound, activate Lost Mode, or wipe your iPhone.
  7. Y'all can also gauge how much battery life is left.
  8. You tin can add together a number at which you can be reached too as a message for the person who finds the iPhone. Hopefully every bit a consequence the iPhone volition exist returned to you.
  9. If yous're concerned that the iPhone has fallen into the incorrect hands, you can either lock it, so that it can't be used but will continue to transmit its location, or you can erase the iPhone.

three. Turn on Lost Mode, Mark as Lost

As long every bit your iPhone was registered for Observe My iPhone y'all volition be able to use Lost Way to lock down your device. This is an essential step if your iPhone has been stolen.

If y'all have Apple Pay prepare on your device this will be disabled and whatever cards prepare will be suspended. When (if) you lot retrieve the iPhone you will be able to reactivate your cards via iCloud. Read more about how to use Apple Pay on iPhone here.

Here's how to turn on Lost Mode to lock your device:

  1. Sign into Find My iPhone as per the instructions above.
  2. Locate the device you lot wish to lock and tap on information technology.
  3. Tap Lost Manner on the pre iOS 13 app, in iOS thirteen tap Mark as Lost.
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
  5. You will be asked to create a passcode if you don't already have 1 on your lost iPhone.
    Yous will exist asked to enter a phone number that volition appear on the device's Lock Screen - this is then if a nice person finds the iPhone they tin contact you lot.
  6. You can likewise add together a bulletin, and then you could tell the person that the device is lost and ask them to contact you at the number given.
  7. Once Lost Mode is on tracking begins so you can see your device's current location and see whatever movement on a map. This volition piece of work fifty-fifty if Location Service was turned off on the device (it will be temporarily turned back on).
  8. If your iPhone was turned off Lost Mode will start working as soon every bit it is turned on (as long as information technology is able to become online once more).

If y'all get your iPhone back you lot should be able to unlock it using your passcode, but if there are whatever issues y'all should be able to get it unlocked at an authorised repair eye.

How to Find an iPhone that is turned off or offline

There's a great reason to update to iOS thirteen - now the Observe My service is able to track iPhones and other Apple tree products using a Bluetooth bespeak that they produce.

This means that even if your iPhone is not connected to the web it will still be able to circulate it'south location to you. Considering hopefully the person who has your iPhone won't have been able to utilise it without unlocking it, it is likely that it isn't continued to the web, therefore this new Bluetooth method is a great way of tracking the lost device because it can be 'seen' past Bluetooth beacons (in shops so on) regardless of whether information technology is connected to the web.

To make sure your iPhone can exist found this way you make sure that Offline Mode is enabled, which it should be past default. Hither's how to check:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap on the section at the summit with your photograph and name.
  3. Tap on Notice My.
  4. Tap on Find My iPhone.
  5. At present make sure that Enable Offline Finding is on. This will enable the iPhone to be found when not continued to Wi-Fi or a mobile network. How to turn on offline finding iphone
  6. Also make sure that Send Last Location is on. This volition send the location details of the last known location of the iPhone (earlier it ran out of battery for example).

Send Last Location is too available as a characteristic for iPhones running iOS 12 or earlier.

The last known location of your iPhone will exist stored for 24 hours after the battery runs out. This isn't on by default but when you open up Notice My iPhone on your iPhone y'all will see an alert asking you to enable information technology.

If you have Send Terminal Location enabled you will be able to encounter where your iPhone was when it ran out of battery or was turned off. Which volition at to the lowest degree indicate if it was in your office, in the pub you went to after work, or somewhere else entirely (which may betoken it was stolen, or that yous left it in the back of a cab/on the train).

Here's how to turn on Send Last Location in iOS 12 or earlier:

  1. Tap Settings > [Your proper noun]
  2. Tap Observe My iPhone.
  3. Ensure Observe My iPhone is set to On.
  4. Set Send Concluding Location to On.

How to discover a family unit member'south iPhone

If you have prepare upwardly Family Sharing you volition be able to locate a family members device using Detect My iPhone.

You will need your family members Apple ID and password when you go through the steps to lock their device.

How to find a lost person with Discover My iPhone

There have been stories of Find My iPhone being used to locate missing people, such as this injured hiker and a missing climber.

To locate a person using Discover My iPhone you lot would need to know their Apple tree ID and password.

If information technology'due south a member of your family and yous have signed up for Family unit Sharing you will exist able to run into the location of the other person, as well every bit share their music, films, apps, photos, location and more. The only event is that you will use a shared payment method - which means you might terminate upwards paying for their purchases. Find out how to use Family Sharing.

A improve option might be to utilise Apple's Find My Friends app, which lets you see where your friends and family are - every bit long as they approve.

How to find iPhone without Find My iPhone

If Detect My iPhone isn't turned on there's not much you tin do to retrieve your iPhone, just you can take some actions to protect your data.

  1. Text your iPhone in the promise that a kind person finds it and sees the message including how to contact yous.
  2. Change your password associated with your Apple tree ID. (Here'south how to change your Apple ID and countersign.)
  3. Change the passwords for your e-mail, FaceBook, Twitter and any other services yous use.
  4. Let your mobile network provider know that your phone is lost or stolen so they tin disable the business relationship.
  5. If you take Apple Pay set up phone call your bank and ask if your card tin exist suspended. (While Apple tree Pay tin't exist accessed without your fingerprint or Passcode, it's probably better to be rubber than sorry).
  6. Study the lost or stolen iPhone to the Constabulary (see below).

Reporting a stolen iPhone

If you want to make a claim on the insurance for your stolen iPhone you volition demand a Police Crime Number, so you will have to report the iPhone equally stolen.

When y'all study a lost or stolen iPhone to the police force you may need to give them the series number of your iPhone. You obviously don't have the device itself to bank check but yous may nevertheless exist able to find it. Here's how to detect an iPhone's serial number:

  • If you lot have Find My iPhone fix you will be able to notice the series number by going to Settings > Your Name and tapping on the device in question. You will need to enter your Apple ID password and besides answer 2 questions that you have previously provided questions to, only once yous are in you will see the series number for that device.
  • If the iPhone is synced with iTunes you should be able to find the series number in iTunes.
  • If you take the device's original packaging yous should exist able to encounter the serial number beside the barcode.
  • If yous have your receipt for the iPhone the serial number should be on it.

How the constabulary can utilise Find My iPhone

Unfortunately, fifty-fifty if they tin see that your iPhone is located somewhere on a particular street or housing estate the constabulary are unlikely to go in search of it, because every bit good equally Detect My iPhone is, information technology's not and so good that they tin be confident about turning up at the correct address. The police force tin just enter an address if they have reason to believe the stolen property is definitely in that location.

It is viable that the information you have obtained via Notice My iPhone could be useful in their enquiries, though, then y'all should share it with the law.

Equally nosotros said before, do not attempt to recover the iPhone yourself, even if the law are non prepared to go to the address Find My iPhone is suggesting the iPhone is located at.

How to set up Detect My iPhone

Information technology's easy to say in retrospect, but prevention is the best cure. If you lot were lucky plenty to become your iPhone dorsum despite not having Notice My iPhone turned on, make sure yous set up Notice My iPhone and then that next time the process of locating it, and if necessary wiping it, is a lot easier.

If you oasis't already prepare Find My iPhone this is how to do it in iOS 13:

  1. On your iPhone tap Settings.
  2. Click on your name at the pinnacle of the listing to enter your iCloud settings.
  3. Scroll down and tap on Find My.
  4. Tap on Find My iPhone.
  5. On the next screen make sure the slider beside Find My iPhone is green. Also enable Offline Finding and Send Terminal Location.

And in iOS 12 or before:

  1. Open Settings
  2. Click on your name at the elevation of the listing to enter iCloud (if your phone is running an older version of iOS click on Settings > iCloud.
  3. Tap on your iPhone (you'll find it in a list of all your Apple tree gadgets).
  4. Tap on Find My iPhone.
  5. Turn on Find My iPhone and Send Last Location.

How to protect your iPhone

And here'southward a few tips to avoid future theft of your iPhone, and ensure that if the worst does happen your information can't exist jeopardised.

  • Set up a screen lock with a pin longer than four digits
  • Back up your iPhone so you don't lose things like photos.
  • Use Find my iPhone
  • Don't brand yourself a target. Don't get your iPhone out in public, or at to the lowest degree not when you are walking downwards a dark road in the dead of night - apart from annihilation it may mean you are less engaged with your surroundings (especially if you accept headphones on)
  • Most thefts are opportune thefts due to you leaving your iPhone behind so brand sure that you keep all your property with y'all