Use Find My iPhone to locate your phone right now

If you have an iPhone, you already have a tool built into Apple's system called Find My that can show you exactly where your phone is on a map. This works even if your phone is locked, off, or you don't have it with you. You can start searching from any computer or another Apple device in the next few minutes.

The fastest way is to go to iCloud.com from any web browser on a computer, tablet, or another phone. Sign in with your Apple ID and password — the same login you use for your iPhone. Then click Find My iPhone (or just Find My on newer versions). A map will appear showing your iPhone's location, sometimes within a few feet.

If you don't remember your Apple ID password, you can reset it on the same iCloud.com page before you sign in. Apple will send a verification code to your email or phone number on file.

Key Takeaways

  • Find My iPhone works through iCloud.com from any computer or web browser, and shows your phone's location on a map even if it is powered off.
  • You can play a sound on your phone to help locate it if it is nearby, or lock it remotely to prevent someone from using it.
  • If your phone is truly gone and you cannot find it, you can erase it remotely to protect your personal data.
  • Find My only works if you turned it on before you lost your phone — you cannot turn it on after the fact.
  • If Find My shows your phone offline or in an unknown location, contact your phone carrier and local police to report it stolen.

Play a sound to find your phone if it is nearby

When you are in Find My and see your phone on the map, click on it and select Play Sound. Your iPhone will make a loud noise for two minutes, even if it is on silent mode. This works if your phone is in your house, car, or somewhere close by where you can hear it.

The sound is loud enough to hear through couch cushions, under a bed, or in a bag. If you hear it, follow the noise to your phone. If you do not hear anything after two minutes, the sound stops and you can play it again.

Lock your phone remotely if you think it is stolen

If you believe someone else has your phone, do not wait. In Find My, select your phone and choose Mark as Lost (on newer iPhones) or Lost Mode (on older models). This locks your phone immediately with a passcode that only you know, even if the person holding it knows your regular password.

When you activate Lost Mode, you can also display a message on your phone's lock screen with a phone number where you can be reached. For example: "This phone is lost. Please call 555-0123." Someone who finds your phone honestly may call that number to return it.

Lost Mode also stops Apple Pay and other payment methods from working on your phone, so a thief cannot make purchases. Your phone will still show its location on the map so you can track where it goes.

Erase your phone if you cannot find it and want to protect your data

If your phone has been missing for days and you are certain you will not find it, you can erase all the data on it remotely. In Find My, select your phone and choose Erase iPhone. This deletes everything — your photos, messages, passwords, banking information, and all your apps.

Erasing your phone is permanent and cannot be undone. Do this only when you are sure the phone is gone for good. After you erase it, the phone will no longer show up in Find My, so you will lose the ability to track it.

If you erase your phone and later find it, you can set it up again from scratch using your Apple ID, but all your data will be gone. Your photos and messages may still be there if you backed them up to iCloud before you lost the phone.

What to do if Find My shows your phone offline or in a strange location

Sometimes Find My shows your phone in a location that does not make sense — across town, in another state, or offline for hours. This usually means the phone's location data is old and has not updated, or the phone is truly powered off. Do not assume this means someone is using your phone.

If your phone stays offline for more than a few hours and you have already tried playing a sound and locking it, contact your phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever you use). Tell them your phone is lost and ask them to suspend your service so no one can make calls or use data on your account.

If you believe your phone was stolen rather than lost, file a report with your local police department. Bring the Find My map showing where your phone was last seen. Some police departments will not file a report for a lost phone, but they will for a stolen one, and this matters if you need to claim it on insurance.

Turn on Find My before you lose your phone

Find My only works if you turned it on before your phone went missing. If you have your iPhone right now, turn on Find My so you are protected in the future. Go to Settings, tap Your Name at the top, then iCloud, then Find My. Turn on Find My iPhone and Find My Network.

Find My Network is an extra layer that helps locate your phone even if it is not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service. It works by using other nearby Apple devices to relay your phone's location back to you. This is especially useful if your phone is powered off or the battery is dead.

You should also turn on Send Last Location in the same menu. This tells your iPhone to send its location to Apple's servers automatically when the battery gets very low, so you know where it was when it died.

Other ways to find your phone if Find My is not working

If Find My shows your phone offline and you cannot locate it, try calling your phone from another device. If someone has it and answers, you have found your phone. If no one answers and it goes to voicemail, your phone is either off or the person who has it is not answering.

Check with places you visited recently — your workplace, a restaurant, a store, a gym. Call ahead and ask if anyone turned in an iPhone. Many businesses keep lost phones at the front desk or customer service for a few days before discarding them.

If you use Google services on your iPhone, you can also go to myaccount.google.com and look at your location history to see where your phone was before it went missing. This is separate from Find My and may show different information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find my iPhone if I never turned on Find My?

No. Find My must be turned on before you lose your phone. If you did not turn it on, there is no way to locate your phone through Apple's system. Your phone carrier may have their own tracking service — contact them to ask.

Does Find My work if my phone is turned off?

Yes, but only for a limited time. iPhones with Find My turned on can report their location even when powered off, as long as the battery has not completely drained. Once the battery dies completely, your phone will no longer send its location.

What if someone else is using my Apple ID on my phone?

If someone has your phone and knows your Apple ID password, they can turn off Find My or remove your phone from your account. This is why you should change your Apple ID password immediately if you think your phone was stolen. Go to appleid.apple.com and update your password.

Will Find My work if my phone is in airplane mode?

No. Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections, including the ones Find My needs to send location data. If your phone is in airplane mode, Find My will show its last known location before airplane mode was turned on.

Can I use Find My on someone else's iPhone to find mine?

Yes. You can sign into iCloud.com on anyone's computer or use the Find My app on another Apple device (iPad, Mac, or another iPhone). Sign in with your own Apple ID, and you will see your phone's location on the map.