Start with the built-in tracking tools on your phone
Both Apple and Google offer free tracking services that work if your phone is powered on and connected to the internet. These services let you see your phone's location on a map, play a sound to help you find it nearby, or lock and erase it remotely if it's gone for good.
For iPhones, use Find My iPhone through iCloud.com or the Find My app on another Apple device. For Android phones, use Find My Mobile through Google.com/android/find or the Find My Device app. Both services work the same way: sign in with your account, select your phone from the list of devices, and choose what you want to do.
The catch is that these tools only work if you set them up before you lost your phone. If you never turned on Find My iPhone or Find My Device, you cannot use them now. If you did set them up, move to the next section. If you did not, skip ahead to the section on contacting your carrier.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's Find My iPhone and Google's Find My Device show your phone's location in real time if it is powered on and connected to the internet.
- If your phone is nearby but silent, use the sound feature to make it ring at full volume even if it is set to vibrate.
- Your phone carrier can see which cell tower your phone last connected to and may help you narrow down the area to search.
- If your phone is truly gone, contact your carrier to suspend service and prevent unauthorized charges, then file a police report for your records.
- Turning on Find My iPhone or Find My Device now protects your next phone, even though it cannot help with the one you lost.
Use the map to narrow down where to search
When you open Find My iPhone or Find My Device, you see a map with your phone's last known location. This location updates in real time if your phone is on and has an internet connection. The accuracy depends on whether your phone is using GPS, cell tower location, or Wi-Fi — GPS is most accurate, but cell tower location might show you within a few blocks.
If the location is somewhere you have been recently — your home, your workplace, a store you visited — start there. Check under seats, in coat pockets, between couch cushions, and anywhere you typically set your phone down. If the location is somewhere you have never been or somewhere you cannot reach, your phone may be in someone else's possession or has been moved.
Keep in mind that the location shown is only as current as your phone's last connection. If your phone's battery died or it lost internet connection, the map shows where it was when that happened, not where it is now.
Play a sound to find your phone if it is nearby
Both Find My iPhone and Find My Device have a feature that makes your phone ring at maximum volume for two minutes, even if you set it to silent or vibrate mode. This works only if your phone is powered on and in range of your voice or hearing.
Use this feature if the map shows your phone is in your home, car, or a nearby location. Walk around slowly and listen for the ringing. Check under furniture, in the bathroom, and in places you might have set it down without thinking. If you hear it, follow the sound to find it.
If you do not hear anything after two minutes, your phone either has no battery, is not connected to the internet, or is in a location you cannot access. You can play the sound again after a few minutes if you want to try once more.
Contact your phone carrier if the map shows an unfamiliar location
If Find My shows your phone in a place you do not recognize, or if the location keeps moving to different areas, your phone may be in someone else's hands. Call your carrier's customer service number — it is on your bill or on the back of your physical SIM card — and tell them your phone is lost or stolen.
Your carrier can see which cell towers your phone has connected to recently, which sometimes helps narrow down a general area. More importantly, they can suspend your service immediately to prevent someone from making calls or using data on your account. They can also flag your phone's unique identifier (called the IMEI number) so that if someone tries to activate it on another carrier's network, the carrier may be able to block it.
Ask your carrier for your phone's IMEI number before you hang up. You will need this number if you file a police report or contact your phone's manufacturer.
File a police report if your phone was stolen
If you believe your phone was stolen rather than simply lost, file a report with your local police department. You can usually do this online through your city or county's police website, or by calling the non-emergency line. Have your phone's IMEI number, your carrier's name, and the approximate time and location where you last had your phone.
A police report creates an official record that you can share with your insurance company if you have phone insurance. It also gives law enforcement a record in case your phone shows up during an investigation into other crimes. The police are unlikely to actively search for your phone, but the report protects you if someone uses your phone number or account fraudulently.
After you file a report, ask the police for a report number. Keep this number for your records and share it with your insurance company when you file a claim.
Protect your accounts and data while your phone is missing
While you are searching for your phone, take steps to protect your accounts in case someone else has it. Change the passwords for your email, banking, and social media accounts from another device — a computer, tablet, or borrowed phone. Start with your email account, because someone who controls your email can reset passwords for almost everything else.
If you use your phone for two-factor authentication (the extra security code you get by text or app), you may not be able to log into some accounts from another device until you regain access to your phone or contact those services. Call your bank, email provider, and any other sensitive accounts to let them know your phone is missing and ask what steps they recommend.
If you have phone insurance, contact your insurance company now. They will ask for your police report number (if you filed one) and your phone's IMEI number. Some policies cover lost phones, while others cover only theft or damage — check your policy documents to see what is covered.
Set up Find My on your next phone to prevent this in the future
Once you replace your phone, turn on Find My iPhone or Find My Device immediately, before you do anything else. For iPhones, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select Find My, and turn on Find My iPhone. For Android phones, go to Settings, search for Find My Device, and turn it on.
You can also enable additional protections. On iPhone, turn on Send Last Location so that if your battery dies, your phone automatically sends its final location to Apple. On Android, make sure your Google account is set up and that you have the Find My Device app installed.
These settings take only a few minutes to configure and give you the best chance of finding your phone if you lose it again. They also let you protect your data remotely if your phone is stolen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I never set up Find My iPhone or Find My Device before I lost my phone?
You cannot use those services now, but you can still contact your carrier. They can see your phone's last known location based on cell tower data and can suspend your service to prevent unauthorized use. You can also file a police report and check with places you visited recently in case someone turned it in.
Can I find my phone if it is turned off?
Find My iPhone and Find My Device cannot locate a phone that is powered off. However, some newer iPhones have a feature called Find My (powered off) that sends location data even when the phone is off, as long as it has battery. Check your phone's settings to see if this is available. For Android, there is no equivalent feature.
What should I do if I find my phone but it has been erased?
If you used Find My to erase your phone remotely and then found it, you can restore it from a backup. Sign in with your Apple ID or Google account on the phone, and you will be given the option to restore from your most recent backup. This will return your photos, contacts, and apps to the state they were in when the backup was made.
Can the police track my phone if Find My does not show its location?
Police can request cell tower data from your carrier with a warrant, which shows which towers your phone connected to. This is less precise than GPS but can narrow down a general area. Contact your local police department's non-emergency line to ask whether they can help with a lost or stolen phone.
Will my phone insurance cover a lost phone?
Coverage varies by insurance plan and carrier. Some plans cover lost phones, while others cover only theft, water damage, or accidental damage. Check your policy documents or call your insurance company to see what is covered. You will typically need a police report number if your phone was stolen.