How to Find a Lost iPhone

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Uh oh, your expensive iPhone is missing. Has it been lost? Has it been stolen? Whatever the problem, there are a few different methods you can try to track it down. Your options include using Apple’s Find My app (previously known as Find My iPhone), an Apple Watch, iCloud, or a family member’s iPhone or iPad to locate your missing device.

If you believe your iPhone was stolen or you just don't want it falling into the wrong hands, you can remotely erase the information on it so no one else can access it. Here’s how to do it.

Enable the ‘Find My’ App

The first action you’ll want to perform before your phone even manages to get lost is to make sure that the Find My feature is enabled. On an iPhone with iOS 13 or higher, you use the Find My app, a combination of the Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps. Go to Settings > [Your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and make sure Find My iPhone and Send Last Location are both turned on.

The Find My app comes with the added bonus of tracking your device's location even if it's offline. If you want this capability, make sure to turn on the switch next to Enable Offline Finding.

Enable Family Sharing

Another option you’ll want to check is Family Sharing. If you’ve enabled Family Sharing, then participating family members can use their Apple device to find a missing iPhone. To check this, go to Settings > [Your name] > Family Sharing. See which family members are currently listed. To include another, tap the link to Add Family Member and follow the steps to add another person.

Find a Lost iPhone on the Map

Now, let's say your phone is lost. If you have an iPad running iPadOS, fire up the Find My app. In the lower-left corner, tap Devices. The app displays a list and a map showing the locations of any of your Apple devices. If your device is running an older operating system, the Find My iPhone app appears and displays any registered devices in the list and on the map.

Track Down Your iPhone

If your iPhone pops up on the map, tap its icon or tap its entry in the list. The app then displays a few different options. Tap Play Sound, and your iPhone emits a pinging sonar-sounding noise to help you find it. A notice also appears on the screen for a Find My iPhone Alert. You can also tap Directions to get driving directions to the device's location.

Mark Device as Lost

If you can’t find your phone, tap Activate in the section for Mark as Lost. This mode lets you lock your phone so no one else can access it and displays your contact information in case someone finds it.

Erase iPhone Data

If you can't locate your phone and are concerned about it being accessed by the wrong person, tap Erase This Device to remove your personal information. The downside here is that an erased phone can no longer be tracked on the map, so only use this option if you have given up all hope of finding your phone.

Use a Family Member’s Device

If you don’t have another device but have enabled Family Sharing, use the iPhone or iPad of a family member. Open the Find My app and swipe down the pane of detected devices to your missing device. Tap the entry for your iPhone to play a sound, get directions, mark the phone as lost, or erase it.

‘Find My’ App on Mac

On a Mac running Catalina, you can use the Find My app to track down a missing iPhone. To get to the app, click Go > Applications > Find My in the top menu. In the Find My app, click the option for Devices. Click the entry for your iPhone from the list or select the icon on the map and click the Info button.

You can then click the Play Sound button to play a pinging noise on your phone. Click the Directions button to view directions to your phone. Click Activate to mark it as lost, or Erase this Device to erase it.

Locate a Missing Device on iCloud

If you don't have another Apple device handy, you can visit your iCloud website to find your phone. Launch your browser and go to iCloud.com. Sign in with your Apple ID and password. Click the icon for Find iPhone. Open the drop-down menu at the top that says All Devices and select your iPhone. You can then run the commands to play a sound, activate Lost Mode, or erase the device.

Ping a Lost iPhone on Apple Watch

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