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

In this tutorial nosotros will talk y'all through how to utilize Discover My iPhone to discover the location of your iPhone or iPad. (In fact you tin likewise use the aforementioned software to locate your Apple Watch, AirPods or Mac.)

Nosotros also explicate how you lot can nonetheless rails the location of your iPhone even if the battery has died or it is no longer connecting to the internet. You tin can now observe a lost iPhone that is turned off thanks to a new feature in iOS 13, more on that below.

Finally, for situations when your iPhone has been stolen and cannot exist recovered, nosotros explicate how to lock the iPhone, wipe your information and make sure that services like Apple Pay tin't exist used.

What not to do

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

In that location was fifty-fifty a instance of a United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland man tracking down and killing the person who stole his son'south iPhone. (He claimed he lashed out in self defence after existence stabbed by the mugger, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, and was jailed for six years.)

However, you might exist able to utilize the data provided by Detect My iPhone to help the law with their enquiries. In that location is a section below that explains how to do this.

ane. Ping your iPhone

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

On your Apple Spotter, swipe upwardly from the bottom of the screen to bring upwards the Control Center. On the lefthand side you lot'll see 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 bespeak the iPhone which is paired with this Apple tree Watch, assuming it's reachable, will 'ding' and then you can hear where it is. Keep pinging the telephone until you find it.

You'll be able to use the same feature on a HomePod equally long as y'all have installed the software update released on 17 September 2018. But 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 past, should I brand it play a audio?"

2. Apply Notice My iPhone

Find My iPhone is a gratuitous service provided past Apple. It is easy to set up upward, and quite possibly the most valuable app on your iPhone (as of iOS 13 the app is chosen Notice My, the app was previoiusly called Notice iPhone). The Notice My service also works for your iPad, Apple Watch and Mac, so you tin keep rail of all your Apple devices.

Assuming you've already set up Detect My iPhone, your iPhone will be able to circulate its location to y'all. So you can use another iOS device or only visit iCloud.com on a Mac or PC to find it.

Whether yous've left your iPhone in the back of a cab, think y'all might have left it in the office, or, worst-example scenario, it'due south been lifted from your pocket, you should be able to use Find My iPhone to track information technology down, as long equally you set up Notice My in the first place. Chances are you will accept set it upwardly when you offset started using your iPhone and then it's worth checking whether yous can employ the service. We take a guide to setting upwards Find My iPhone at the finish of the article.

Assuming y'all have Find My iPhone ready up, here's how to use the Find My app to find your iPhone.

What you volition need to use Find My iPhone

  • Y'all will either demand to inquire a friend if you tin borrow their iOS device, or utilize another iOS device you own. Alternatively, you can use a Mac or a PC to log on to the service.
  • If the iPhone or iPad is running iOS xiii, locate the Find My app. On earlier versions of the operating organisation the app is called Find iPhone.
  • If you don't have an iOS device avaialble, visit iCloud.com on a Mac or PC and log onto your iCloud account there.
  • You will need to have registered your iPhone for the Find My service.

How to use Observe My on your ain iPhone or iPad

Find My App

Here's how to runway your iPhone using the Notice My app (iOS 13)

  1. If you're using an iOS device, locate the Notice My app. (Drag down from the top of the screen and type 'Find:' y'all should see Find My in the Applications section (ame icon equally to a higher place).
  2. Click on that icon to open up Find My. At present enter your Apple ID and Password - this will exist the login you use whenever you buy annihilation from the App Store or iTunes, or when logging on to any other Apple services. You will have set an Apple ID when you got your first Apple device. (Retention lapse? Here'southward how to reset a forgotten Apple ID.)
  3. Tap on Devices (Find My now includes a section for finding People, which was previously the Find My Friend's app).
  4. A map volition appear showing your location and any device that are with you. You could expect at your home or work addresses to see devices that are at those locations. Find My iPhone
  5. Find the device you want to rails in the list of devices you have registered for the service and tap on information technology.
  6. Now (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, Marking equally Lost, and Erase This Device. Hopefully you volition simply run across that you left your iPhone at home, or in the part. You lot tin and so Play a Audio and discover it under the auto seat, or get directions to go and hunt for information technology in the park. (We don't advise going to hunt for a stolen iPhone - don't put yourself in any danger!) Find My iPhone Options
  7. Altenatively you might have left it on a coach, in which case you lot might run into the location of the iPhone but notice that it is irresolute. In which example you should choose the Mark As Lost choice.
  8. The Mark As Lost choice is also the one to use if the iPhone or iPad isn't at any location y'all know, or if information technology's not showing any location. After chooseing Marker Every bit Lost y'all will then get option to provide contact information for the person who finds your lost device, which should assistance them return it to you lot. You lot will need to enter a phone number that tin be used to contact you on. You'll as well go the option to enter bulletin, and then that you tin prove a message on the device to the person who finds it. Apple suggests the words: "This iPhone has been lost. Please phone call me". Once you lot have completed these steps tap on Activate. Mark as Lost iPhone
  9. If y'all aren't then lucky and your iPhone can't be located, you will also see the option to Notify When Found besides as Erase This Device. Choose notify When Establish if yous still have a glimmer of hope that you lot will go your iPhone (or iPad) dorsum.
  10. Or in a worst-case scenario, choose Erase your iPhone and then your data can't fall into the incorrect hands

Hither's how to track your iPhone using the Find iPhone app (pre-iOS 13)

  1. If you're using an iOS device, locate and open the Observe iPhone app.
  2. Enter your Apple ID and Password.
  3. You lot will run across a compass and the word Locating on the screen of the device every bit the iPhone tracks the location of your devices.
  4. You lot may see a few options, such equally assuasive 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 next section.)
  5. Next you will see a map indicating the locations of your various devices, beneath the map is a listing of your devices. find iphone ios 12
  6. Either roll 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 lot've located the device, tap on it, and you lot volition see y'all have a few options. You can play a sound, for instance: useful if yous've lost your iPhone at home somewhere (and had the sound turned off so calling information technology wasn't working). find iphone options ios 12
  8. Depending on the age of the iPhone and the iOS version you lot tin can either switch your iPhone into Lost Fashion, which will lock it downwards and transmit its location (more on Lost Fashion beneath); or for older iPhones, Lock, which will lock the iPhone and notify yous when information technology'due south found.
  9. Or in a worst-case scenario, you lot tin Erase your iPhone so your data can't fall into the incorrect easily.
  10. Once you lot're washed, sign out of Detect My iPhone on your friend's device.

How to use Discover 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, simply you do have a friend with an iPhone, hither's what to exercise:

Note: In iOS 13 y'all volition demand to utilize iCloud to locate the lost iPhone from some other person's iPhone. Pre iOS thirteen you could just log out of their account and log in to your account using their iPhone, in which case, you tin follow the steps in the previous section.

  1. Open up the Find My app on their device (if they are using iOS 13). If they aren't using iOS 13 you can simply log out of the app and log in every bit yourself).
  2. Tap in the Me section.
  3. Choose Help a Friend (this is a new addition in iOS xiii.1 so if you aren't seeing that, make sure the software is up to date).
  4. iCloud will open up - just y'all volition accept to sign in with your Apple ID. This could be problematic if you take to approve the log on using ii factor authentication and don't have another Apple device to do and so with.
  5. In one case in you will come 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 Audio, Lost Mode and Erase iPhone.

Find my iphone on another iphone

Find my iPhone using iCloud.com

The same goes if yous are attempting to rails a lost iPhone using a Mac or PC. You can log onto iCloud and admission the Observe My service there.

  1. On a Mac or PC, visit iCloud.com.
  2. Log on using your Apple tree ID and Countersign. Y'all may also have to use two cistron identification to prove it's you, which could prove catchy if you don't have a device available that is registered to you to corroborate it on and receive the six digit lawmaking.
  3. One time you lot are in, click on Find iPhone. (This will really notice 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 dark-green dot on the map.
  6. Click on the green dot, and then the (i) beside the device proper noun. This will zoom into the location of your device and let yous Play Sound, activate Lost Mode, or wipe your iPhone.
  7. You tin also gauge how much battery life is left.
  8. Yous tin can add a number at which you can be reached as well every bit a message for the person who finds the iPhone. Hopefully equally a event the iPhone volition be returned to you.
  9. If you're concerned that the iPhone has fallen into the incorrect hands, y'all tin can either lock information technology, so that it tin can't be used but will keep to transmit its location, or you can erase the iPhone.

iii. Plow on Lost Way, Mark every bit Lost

As long equally your iPhone was registered for Find My iPhone y'all will be able to employ Lost Style to lock down your device. This is an essential pace if your iPhone has been stolen.

If yous have Apple Pay set on your device this volition be disabled and whatsoever cards set up will be suspended. When (if) yous call up the iPhone you will be able to reactivate your cards via iCloud. Read more virtually how to utilize Apple Pay on iPhone hither.

Here'due south how to plow on Lost Mode to lock your device:

  1. Sign into Find My iPhone as per the instructions above.
  2. Locate the device yous wish to lock and tap on it.
  3. Tap Lost Mode on the pre iOS 13 app, in iOS 13 tap Mark every bit Lost.
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
  5. You will be asked to create a passcode if you don't already have one on your lost iPhone.
    You will be asked to enter a phone number that will announced on the device's Lock Screen - this is and so if a squeamish person finds the iPhone they tin can contact you.
  6. You can also add a message, so you could tell the person that the device is lost and ask them to contact you lot at the number given.
  7. In one case Lost Mode is on tracking begins and then y'all tin see your device'due south current location and run across whatever movement on a map. This will work fifty-fifty if Location Service was turned off on the device (information technology will exist temporarily turned dorsum on).
  8. If your iPhone was turned off Lost Mode will first working equally soon as information technology is turned on (as long as it is able to go online again).

If you lot get your iPhone back you should be able to unlock it using your passcode, merely if there are any problems you should exist able to become it unlocked at an authorised repair heart.

How to Find an iPhone that is turned off or offline

There'southward a great reason to update to iOS 13 - now the Find My service is able to runway iPhones and other Apple tree products using a Bluetooth signal that they produce.

This means that even if your iPhone is non continued to the spider web it volition still exist able to broadcast information technology's location to you. Considering hopefully the person who has your iPhone won't have been able to use information technology without unlocking it, it is likely that it isn't connected to the web, therefore this new Bluetooth method is a not bad mode of tracking the lost device because it tin can be 'seen' past Bluetooth beacons (in shops and so on) regardless of whether information technology is connected to the spider web.

To make sure your iPhone can exist constitute this mode you make certain that Offline Mode is enabled, which it should be by default. Here's how to check:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap on the section at the top with your photo and name.
  3. Tap on Find My.
  4. Tap on Find My iPhone.
  5. Now make sure that Enable Offline Finding is on. This volition 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 Transport Last Location is on. This will ship the location details of the concluding known location of the iPhone (before it ran out of battery for example).

Send Last Location is also available equally a feature for iPhones running iOS 12 or earlier.

The last known location of your iPhone will be stored for 24 hours after the battery runs out. This isn't on by default merely when y'all open Find My iPhone on your iPhone you will see an warning request y'all to enable it.

If you have Send Final Location enabled you volition exist able to see where your iPhone was when it ran out of bombardment or was turned off. Which will at least signal if it was in your office, in the pub you lot went to afterward work, or somewhere else entirely (which may point it was stolen, or that you left it in the back of a cab/on the railroad train).

Here'southward how to turn on Send Final Location in iOS 12 or earlier:

  1. Tap Settings > [Your name]
  2. Tap Observe My iPhone.
  3. Ensure Find My iPhone is set to On.
  4. Set Ship Last Location to On.

How to find a family fellow member'southward iPhone

If y'all take gear up Family Sharing you will exist able to locate a family unit members device using Find My iPhone.

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

How to find a lost person with Detect My iPhone

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

To locate a person using Observe My iPhone yous would need to know their Apple ID and password.

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

A meliorate pick might be to use Apple's Discover My Friends app, which lets y'all run across where your friends and family unit are - as long as they approve.

How to notice iPhone without Find My iPhone

If Notice My iPhone isn't turned on there's non much yous can do to retrieve your iPhone, but you can accept 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 you.
  2. Change your password associated with your Apple tree ID. (Here'south how to change your Apple ID and password.)
  3. Modify the passwords for your email, FaceBook, Twitter and whatever other services yous use.
  4. Let your mobile network provider know that your phone is lost or stolen and so they can disable the account.
  5. If you lot have Apple Pay prepare up phone call your bank and ask if your carte tin can be suspended. (While Apple Pay can't be accessed without your fingerprint or Passcode, it'due south probably ameliorate to exist safety than sorry).
  6. Written report the lost or stolen iPhone to the Law (see below).

Reporting a stolen iPhone

If you lot want to brand a claim on the insurance for your stolen iPhone yous will need a Constabulary Offense Number, so you will accept to study the iPhone every bit stolen.

When you written report a lost or stolen iPhone to the police you may need to requite them the series number of your iPhone. You obviously don't have the device itself to cheque but you may still be able to find information technology. Here'due south how to observe an iPhone's serial number:

  • If you take Find My iPhone set upward y'all will be able to find the serial number by going to Settings > Your Name and tapping on the device in question. Yous will need to enter your Apple ID countersign and also answer ii questions that yous have previously provided questions to, simply once you lot are in you volition meet the series number for that device.
  • If the iPhone is synced with iTunes you lot should be able to find the serial number in iTunes.
  • If you have the device'southward original packaging yous should be able to meet the serial number abreast the barcode.
  • If you accept your receipt for the iPhone the serial number should be on it.

How the police can use Observe My iPhone

Unfortunately, even if they tin can see that your iPhone is located somewhere on a item street or housing estate the police are unlikely to go in search of information technology, because equally proficient as Detect My iPhone is, it'due south non and then good that they can be confident about turning upward at the right address. The law can but enter an accost if they have reason to believe the stolen property is definitely there.

Information technology is feasible that the data you take obtained via Discover My iPhone could exist useful in their enquiries, though, and then you should share information technology with the police.

Every bit nosotros said before, practice not attempt to recover the iPhone yourself, fifty-fifty if the police are not prepared to go to the address Observe My iPhone is suggesting the iPhone is located at.

How to prepare Find My iPhone

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

If yous oasis't already set upwardly 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 summit 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 brand certain the slider beside Find My iPhone is green. Besides enable Offline Finding and Send Last Location.

And in iOS 12 or before:

  1. Open up Settings
  2. Click on your name at the tiptop of the list to enter iCloud (if your telephone is running an older version of iOS click on Settings > iCloud.
  3. Tap on your iPhone (you'll find information technology in a list of all your Apple gadgets).
  4. Tap on Discover My iPhone.
  5. Plow on Notice My iPhone and Send Concluding Location.

How to protect your iPhone

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

  • Set a screen lock with a pin longer than iv digits
  • Support your iPhone and then 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 least not when you lot are walking down a dark route in the dead of night - apart from anything it may mean you are less engaged with your environs (especially if you lot take headphones on)
  • Most thefts are opportune thefts due to you leaving your iPhone behind so make sure that yous keep all your property with you