Y'all've probably arrived at this article because you've lost your iPhone, or fifty-fifty worse, recollect information technology might have been stolen. The good news is that Apple has software that tin make information technology piece of cake to track down a lost iPhone, and if information technology has been stolen yous tin employ that software to wipe the iPhone and lock information technology downwardly so that your information is protected.

In this tutorial we will talk yous through how to employ Detect My iPhone to notice the location of your iPhone or iPad. (In fact you can also use the aforementioned software to locate your Apple tree Watch, AirPods or Mac.)

We also explain how you tin can all the same track the location of your iPhone even if the battery has died or it 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 xiii, 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 information and make sure that services similar Apple Pay can't exist used.

What not to exercise

What y'all should never do is attempt to recall your iPhone if you remember it has fallen into the incorrect hands. At that place accept been cases of people attempting to recover stolen iPhones using Find My iPhone and being hurt, or worse.

There was even a case of a UK man tracking down and killing the person who stole his son'southward 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.)

However, you might be able to utilise the information provided by Observe My iPhone to help the police with their enquiries. There is a section below that explains how to do this.

one. Ping your iPhone

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

On your Apple Lookout, swipe upward from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Control Centre. On the lefthand side you lot'll come across an icon of an iPhone with curved lines emanating from information technology: this is the ping button. Tap it.

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

At this indicate the iPhone which is paired with this Apple Lookout, bold it's reachable, will 'ding' so you lot tin hear where it is. Keep pinging the phone until you find it.

Y'all'll be able to use the same feature on a HomePod every bit long as you have installed the software update released on 17 September 2018. Just tell your HomePod "Hey Siri where'southward my iPhone?" If the iPhone is close, in response Siri volition hopefully say, "I found [name's] iPhone nigh by, should I arrive play a sound?"

2. Employ Find My iPhone

Observe My iPhone is a free service provided by Apple. It is like shooting fish in a barrel to set up, and quite possibly the most valuable app on your iPhone (equally of iOS thirteen the app is called Find My, the app was previoiusly called Find iPhone). The Detect My service also works for your iPad, Apple Lookout and Mac, then you lot can keep track of all your Apple devices.

Assuming you've already fix up Find My iPhone, your iPhone will exist able to circulate its location to you. Then yous tin use another iOS device or only visit iCloud.com on a Mac or PC to detect it.

Whether you've left your iPhone in the back of a cab, call back y'all might have left it in the office, or, worst-instance scenario, information technology's been lifted from your pocket, y'all should exist able to utilise Find My iPhone to track information technology down, as long every bit yous set up Find My in the first identify. Chances are you will have set up information technology upwardly when you lot first started using your iPhone so information technology'south worth checking whether you tin can use the service. We take a guide to setting up Find My iPhone at the terminate of the article.

Assuming you take Find My iPhone set upwards, here's how to use the Find My app to find your iPhone.

What you will demand to use Find My iPhone

  • You volition either need to inquire a friend if you lot can borrow their iOS device, or use some other iOS device you own. 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 Find My app. On earlier versions of the operating system the app is called Detect iPhone.
  • If you don't have an iOS device avaialble, visit iCloud.com on a Mac or PC and log onto your iCloud business relationship there.
  • You will need to take registered your iPhone for the Detect My service.

How to use Find My on your own iPhone or iPad

Find My App

Here's how to track your iPhone using the Detect My app (iOS xiii)

  1. If you lot're using an iOS device, locate the Find My app. (Drag down from the acme of the screen and type 'Find:' y'all should see Find My in the Applications section (ame icon as above).
  2. Click on that icon to open Discover My. Now enter your Apple ID and Password - this will exist the login you use whenever you buy anything from the App Store or iTunes, or when logging on to any other Apple services. Y'all will accept gear up an Apple ID when yous got your outset Apple tree device. (Memory lapse? Here's how to reset a forgotten Apple tree ID.)
  3. Tap on Devices (Find My at present includes a section for finding People, which was previously the Find My Friend's app).
  4. A map will appear showing your location and whatever device that are with you. Y'all could await at your home or work addresses to see devices that are at those locations. Find My iPhone
  5. Find the device you desire to track in the listing of devices you accept registered for the service and tap on it.
  6. Now (if you are lucky) you will run into the location of the lost device on a map, including a number of options: Play Sound, Directions, Notifications, Mark as Lost, and Erase This Device. Hopefully y'all will merely see that you left your iPhone at home, or in the office. Y'all tin then Play a Sound and find information technology under the car seat, or go 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 lot might accept left it on a bus, in which instance you might see the location of the iPhone but discover that it is changing. In which case you should choose the Mark As Lost option.
  8. The Mark As Lost option is also the ane to apply if the iPhone or iPad isn't at any location you know, or if it's non showing any location. After chooseing Mark As Lost you will and so get option to provide contact information for the person who finds your lost device, which should help them return information technology to yous. You volition need to enter a phone number that can be used to contact you lot on. Y'all'll also get the option to enter message, so that you can show a message on the device to the person who finds it. Apple suggests the words: "This iPhone has been lost. Please call me". Once you have completed these steps tap on Activate. Mark as Lost iPhone
  9. If you aren't so lucky and your iPhone tin can't be located, you will also see the pick to Notify When Found as well every bit Erase This Device. Choose notify When Establish if yous even so have a glimmer of hope that you will get your iPhone (or iPad) back.
  10. Or in a worst-instance scenario, choose Erase your iPhone so your information can't fall into the wrong hands

Here's how to track your iPhone using the Find iPhone app (pre-iOS thirteen)

  1. If you lot're using an iOS device, locate and open the Find iPhone app.
  2. Enter your Apple tree ID and Password.
  3. You will see a compass and the word Locating on the screen of the device as the iPhone tracks the location of your devices.
  4. You may see a few options, such as assuasive Find My iPhone to know your location and turning on Send Final Location. We suggest you agree to both of these options. (More on the latter in the next department.)
  5. Next y'all will see a map indicating the locations of your various devices, beneath the map is a list 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 notice the device in the list below the map.
  7. Now that you've located the device, tap on it, and you will see you have a few options. Y'all can play a sound, for instance: useful if you've lost your iPhone at domicile somewhere (and had the sound turned off so calling it wasn't working). find iphone options ios 12
  8. Depending on the age of the iPhone and the iOS version you can either switch your iPhone into Lost Mode, which will lock it down and transmit its location (more on Lost Way below); 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 lot tin 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'southward device.

How to utilise Find My on a friend's iPhone or iPad

If you don't have an iOS device handy to search for your iPhone using the Find My app, merely you do have a friend with an iPhone, here'due south what to practice:

Notation: In iOS 13 you will need to utilize iCloud to locate the lost iPhone from another person's iPhone. Pre iOS 13 you lot could merely log out of their account and log in to your business relationship using their iPhone, in which case, y'all can follow the steps in the previous department.

  1. Open the Observe My app on their device (if they are using iOS 13). If they aren't using iOS thirteen you can just log out of the app and log in every bit yourself).
  2. Tap in the Me section.
  3. Choose Aid a Friend (this is a new addition in iOS 13.one and then if you aren't seeing that, make sure the software is up to date).
  4. iCloud will open up - but you will have to sign in with your Apple ID. This could be problematic if you accept to approve the log on using two factor authentication and don't have some other Apple device to practise and so with.
  5. Once in you will run into a map with the location of your various devices on it. Tap on the device you have lost and cull from the options: Play Sound, Lost Mode and Erase iPhone.

Find my iphone on another iphone

Observe my iPhone using iCloud.com

The aforementioned goes if you are attempting to track a lost iPhone using a Mac or PC. Y'all 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 Password. You may as well have to use two factor identification to prove information technology'south you, which could prove tricky if you don't have a device available that is registered to you to approve it on and receive the half-dozen digit code.
  3. Once you are in, click on Find iPhone. (This will really detect all your registered Apple tree devices.)
  4. Sign in once again with your password and wait for your devices to be located.
  5. Located devices volition be indicated by a green dot on the map.
  6. Click on the green dot, then the (i) beside the device name. This will zoom into the location of your device and let y'all Play Sound, actuate Lost Mode, or wipe your iPhone.
  7. You tin can also estimate how much bombardment life is left.
  8. Yous tin add a number at which you can be reached as well every bit a bulletin for the person who finds the iPhone. Hopefully as a issue the iPhone will exist returned to you.
  9. If yous're concerned that the iPhone has fallen into the wrong easily, you tin can either lock it, so that it can't be used but will keep to transmit its location, or yous can erase the iPhone.

3. Plow on Lost Way, Marking equally Lost

Every bit long as your iPhone was registered for Find My iPhone yous will be able to use Lost Style to lock downward your device. This is an essential step if your iPhone has been stolen.

If you take Apple Pay fix upwards on your device this will be disabled and whatever cards ready will be suspended. When (if) y'all retrieve the iPhone you will exist able to reactivate your cards via iCloud. Read more near how to employ Apple tree Pay on iPhone hither.

Hither'due south how to plough on Lost Manner to lock your device:

  1. Sign into Notice My iPhone equally per the instructions above.
  2. Locate the device you lot wish to lock and tap on it.
  3. Tap Lost Way on the pre iOS 13 app, in iOS xiii tap Marker as Lost.
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
  5. Yous will be asked to create a passcode if you lot don't already have i on your lost iPhone.
    Yous volition exist asked to enter a phone number that will appear on the device'southward Lock Screen - this is so if a nice person finds the iPhone they can contact you lot.
  6. You can also add together a message, so 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 run across your device's current location and come across any movement on a map. This volition work even if Location Service was turned off on the device (it will exist temporarily turned dorsum on).
  8. If your iPhone was turned off Lost Manner will start working every bit soon as it is turned on (as long as information technology is able to get online once more).

If you go your iPhone back you should be able to unlock it using your passcode, but if there are any problems y'all should be able to get it unlocked at an authorised repair center.

How to Find an iPhone that is turned off or offline

There's a slap-up reason to update to iOS xiii - now the Detect My service is able to runway iPhones and other Apple products using a Bluetooth signal that they produce.

This means that even if your iPhone is not connected to the spider web information technology will withal exist able to broadcast it's location to you. Considering hopefully the person who has your iPhone won't accept been able to utilise information technology without unlocking it, it is likely that information technology isn't connected to the web, therefore this new Bluetooth method is a great fashion of tracking the lost device because it can be 'seen' by Bluetooth beacons (in shops and then on) regardless of whether it is connected to the web.

To brand sure your iPhone tin be found this style you make sure that Offline Mode is enabled, which it should be by default. Hither's how to check:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap on the department at the top with your photo and name.
  3. Tap on Find My.
  4. Tap on Observe My iPhone.
  5. At present make sure that Enable Offline Finding is on. This will enable the iPhone to be found when non connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network. How to turn on offline finding iphone
  6. Also make sure that Ship Terminal Location is on. This will ship the location details of the last known location of the iPhone (earlier information technology ran out of battery for example).

Send Last Location is also bachelor as a feature for iPhones running iOS 12 or before.

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

If you have Ship Concluding Location enabled you will be able to see where your iPhone was when it ran out of bombardment or was turned off. Which will at least 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 y'all left it in the back of a cab/on the train).

Hither'due south how to turn on Send Last Location in iOS 12 or earlier:

  1. Tap Settings > [Your name]
  2. Tap Find My iPhone.
  3. Ensure Find My iPhone is ready to On.
  4. Prepare Send Concluding Location to On.

How to notice a family unit fellow member'due south iPhone

If you have gear up Family Sharing yous will be able to locate a family members device using Detect My iPhone.

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

How to observe a lost person with Find My iPhone

In that location accept 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 Find My iPhone you would need to know their Apple tree ID and password.

If it'due south a member of your family and you have signed upward for Family Sharing you will be able to come across the location of the other person, as well as share their music, films, apps, photos, location and more. The merely upshot is that you lot volition use a shared payment method - which ways you lot might cease up paying for their purchases. Find out how to apply Family Sharing.

A better choice might be to use Apple's Find My Friends app, which lets you lot see where your friends and family unit are - as long every bit they approve.

How to find iPhone without Observe My iPhone

If Find My iPhone isn't turned on at that place's not much you tin do to call back your iPhone, but you tin take some deportment to protect your information.

  1. Text your iPhone in the hope that a kind person finds it and sees the bulletin including how to contact y'all.
  2. Change your password associated with your Apple ID. (Here'southward how to change your Apple ID and password.)
  3. Alter the passwords for your electronic mail, FaceBook, Twitter and any other services you apply.
  4. Let your mobile network provider know that your phone is lost or stolen then they tin disable the business relationship.
  5. If you lot accept Apple Pay ready phone call your banking company and ask if your card can be suspended. (While Apple Pay tin't be accessed without your fingerprint or Passcode, it's probably better to be safe than lamentable).
  6. Written report the lost or stolen iPhone to the Police (run into below).

Reporting a stolen iPhone

If you desire to make a claim on the insurance for your stolen iPhone you volition demand a Police Criminal offence Number, so yous will have to study the iPhone equally stolen.

When you report a lost or stolen iPhone to the constabulary you may need to give them the serial number of your iPhone. You lot plain don't have the device itself to check but you may however be able to discover it. Here's how to find an iPhone's serial number:

  • If you take Discover My iPhone fix you volition exist able to find the serial number by going to Settings > Your Name and tapping on the device in question. You lot volition demand to enter your Apple ID password and also answer two questions that you have previously provided questions to, but one time you are in you will see the serial number for that device.
  • If the iPhone is synced with iTunes you should be able to find the serial number in iTunes.
  • If you have the device'due south original packaging yous should exist able to encounter the serial number beside the barcode.
  • If you lot have your receipt for the iPhone the serial number should be on it.

How the law can use Observe My iPhone

Unfortunately, even if they can see that your iPhone is located somewhere on a particular street or housing estate the constabulary are unlikely to go in search of it, considering every bit good as Observe My iPhone is, it's non and then good that they tin can exist confident nigh turning upwards at the right address. The law can only enter an address if they have reason to believe the stolen property is definitely there.

It is viable that the data y'all have obtained via Detect My iPhone could exist useful in their enquiries, though, so you should share it with the police.

As we said earlier, practise not attempt to recover the iPhone yourself, fifty-fifty if the police are non prepared to get to the address Find My iPhone is suggesting the iPhone is located at.

How to set up Notice My iPhone

It's easy to say in hindsight, but prevention is the best cure. If you were lucky enough to get your iPhone back despite non having Find My iPhone turned on, make certain you lot set up Find My iPhone so that side by side time the process of locating it, and if necessary wiping it, is a lot easier.

If y'all haven'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 top of the list 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 Discover My iPhone is greenish. Also enable Offline Finding and Send Last Location.

And in iOS 12 or earlier:

  1. Open Settings
  2. Click on your proper noun at the summit of the list to enter iCloud (if your phone is running an older version of iOS click on Settings > iCloud.
  3. Tap on your iPhone (you lot'll discover it in a list of all your Apple gadgets).
  4. Tap on Find My iPhone.
  5. Turn on Find My iPhone and Transport Final Location.

How to protect your iPhone

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

  • Set a screen lock with a pin longer than four digits
  • Support your iPhone then you don't lose things like photos.
  • Apply Notice my iPhone
  • Don't make yourself a target. Don't become your iPhone out in public, or at least non when you lot are walking down a dark road in the dead of night - apart from anything it may mean y'all are less engaged with your environs (especially if y'all have headphones on)
  • Nearly thefts are opportune thefts due to you leaving your iPhone behind so make sure that you keep all your belongings with you