Adding a device to Find My iPhone takes about five minutes and requires you to be signed into the same Apple ID on both devices

Find My iPhone works by connecting all your devices through your Apple ID. When you add a new device, it automatically appears in the Find My app on your other Apple devices and on iCloud.com. The device you're adding must be running iOS 13.1 or later (or iPadOS 13.1 or later for iPad), and you need to know your Apple ID password.

The process is the same whether you're adding an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Once it's added, you can locate it on a map, play a sound to find it nearby, or lock it remotely if it's lost.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be signed into the same Apple ID on both the device you're adding and the device you're using to manage it.
  • The new device needs to have Location Services turned on and Find My enabled in Settings before it will show up.
  • After you add a device, it appears in the Find My app within a few minutes, but only if it's powered on and connected to the internet.
  • You can add devices from the Find My app on another Apple device or from iCloud.com using any web browser.

Add a device using the Find My app on another Apple device

Open the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's already signed into your Apple ID. At the bottom of the screen, tap or click the "Devices" tab. Then tap or click the plus sign (+) in the top right corner.

Select "Add a Device" from the menu. You'll see a list of devices connected to your Apple ID that aren't yet in Find My. Tap or click the device you want to add. If the device doesn't appear in the list, make sure it's powered on, connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, and signed into the same Apple ID.

After you select the device, tap or click "Add" to confirm. The device will appear in your Devices list within a few minutes. If it doesn't show up right away, wait a few more minutes and refresh the app by pulling down on the screen.

Add a device using iCloud.com

Go to iCloud.com in any web browser and sign in with your Apple ID. Click the Find My app icon (it looks like a radar circle). Then click "Devices" at the top of the page.

Click the plus sign (+) next to "Add Device". You'll see a list of your devices. Click the one you want to add to Find My. If you don't see the device listed, it may not be signed into your Apple ID yet, or it may not have Location Services enabled.

Click "Add" to confirm. The device will show up in your Devices list once it connects to the internet. This usually takes a few minutes.

Make sure the device is ready to be added

Before you try to add a device, check that it meets these requirements. The device must be running iOS 13.1 or later, iPadOS 13.1 or later, or watchOS 6.1 or later. You can check this by going to Settings, then General, then About, and looking at the version number.

The device must be signed into your Apple ID. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and make sure you're logged in. If you're not, sign in with your Apple ID and password.

Location Services must be turned on. Go to Settings, tap Privacy, then tap Location Services, and make sure the toggle is green. Then scroll down and make sure Find My has Location Services enabled — it should show a purple arrow next to it.

The device must be connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. If it's in airplane mode or not connected to any network, it won't show up in the list of devices to add.

Troubleshoot when a device won't appear

If the device you want to add doesn't show up in the list, the most common reason is that it's not signed into your Apple ID. Double-check Settings by tapping your name at the top. If you're signed in but the device still doesn't appear, sign out and sign back in. This can take a few minutes to sync.

If the device is signed in but still missing, make sure Find My is enabled. Go to Settings, tap your name, then tap Find My, then tap Find My iPhone (or Find My iPad). Make sure both toggles are green. On an Apple Watch, go to the Watch app on your paired iPhone, tap Privacy, then make sure Find My is on.

Restart the device you're trying to add. Hold down the power button until you see the power-off slider, then slide to turn it off. Wait 30 seconds, then hold the power button again to turn it back on. Try adding it again after it restarts.

If you're still having trouble, restart the device you're using to add it (the one with the Find My app open). Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to see all available devices.

What happens after you add a device

Once a device is added to Find My, it will show up on the map in the Devices section. You can tap or click on it to see its current location, as long as it's powered on and connected to the internet. If the device is offline, you'll see the last known location instead.

You can now use Find My to play a sound on the device, mark it as lost, or erase it remotely. You can also share your device location with family members if you set up Family Sharing. Any device on your account can see all the other devices on that account in Find My.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone else's device to my Find My account?

No. A device can only be added to Find My through the Apple ID it's signed into. If you want to track a family member's device, they need to set up Family Sharing with you, and then you can see their device location through the Find My app. They remain in control of their own device.

Why does my device show as offline in Find My?

A device shows as offline when it's powered off, not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, or in airplane mode. Find My will display the last known location it had before going offline. Once the device connects to the internet again, its location will update within a few minutes.

Do I need to add each device separately?

Yes, each device needs to be added individually through the Find My app or iCloud.com. However, if you set up a new device and sign into the same Apple ID during setup, Find My will often enable automatically without you having to manually add it.

Can I remove a device from Find My?

Yes. Open the Find My app, tap Devices, select the device you want to remove, scroll down, and tap "Remove This Device". You can also remove it from iCloud.com by clicking Devices, selecting the device, and clicking "Remove".

What if I add a device by mistake?

You can remove it immediately by opening Find My, tapping Devices, selecting the device, scrolling down, and tapping "Remove This Device". Removing a device from Find My doesn't affect the device itself or sign it out of your Apple ID.