Turn on Find My Mac in System Settings

Find My Mac is built into macOS and turned on through System Settings. Open System Settings, click your name at the top of the sidebar, then select iCloud. Scroll down until you see Find My Mac and toggle it on. Your Mac will now be findable through iCloud.com or the Find My app on another Apple device.

You need to be signed into your Apple ID for this to work. If you are not already signed in, System Settings will prompt you to do so before you can enable Find My Mac. Make sure you use the same Apple ID on every device you want to use for finding your Mac.

The first time you turn on Find My Mac, your device may take a few seconds to register with Apple's servers. Once it shows as enabled in System Settings, your Mac is protected and can be located remotely.

Key Takeaways

  • Find My Mac is turned on in System Settings under your Apple ID name, in the iCloud section.
  • You must be signed into an Apple ID before Find My Mac can be enabled.
  • Once turned on, you can locate your Mac from iCloud.com or the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or another Mac.
  • Find My Mac also lets you remotely lock your Mac or erase it if it is lost or stolen.

What Find My Mac actually does

When Find My Mac is on, you can see your Mac's location on a map from any other Apple device or from iCloud.com. This works even if your Mac is asleep, as long as it is connected to power and has an internet connection at some point during the day.

Beyond location, Find My Mac gives you three additional options if your device goes missing. You can play a sound on your Mac to help you find it nearby, lock your Mac remotely with a new password, or erase it entirely to protect your data. These actions work whether your Mac is on or off, though erasing requires your Mac to be turned back on at some point.

Checking that Find My Mac is actually on

After you toggle Find My Mac on, go back to System Settings and return to the iCloud section to confirm the toggle is still enabled. Sometimes the setting fails to save on the first try, especially if your internet connection is slow.

If the toggle keeps turning itself off, sign out of iCloud completely, restart your Mac, and sign back in. Then try enabling Find My Mac again. If it still will not stay on, your Mac may need a software update — check System Settings > General > Software Update.

Using Find My Mac from another device

Once Find My Mac is on, open the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or another Mac. Tap or click the Devices tab at the bottom, then select your Mac from the list. A map will show your Mac's location, and you will see buttons to play a sound, mark it as lost, or erase it.

You can also use iCloud.com from any web browser. Sign in with your Apple ID, click Find My in the app launcher, then select your Mac. The same options appear: locate it, play a sound, lock it, or erase it.

Why Find My Mac might not turn on

The most common reason Find My Mac will not enable is that you are not signed into iCloud. Check System Settings > [Your Name] at the top of the sidebar. If you see "Sign In" instead of your name, you need to sign in first.

A second reason is that your Mac does not have an internet connection. Find My Mac requires a working Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to register with Apple's servers. Connect to the internet, wait a few seconds, and try toggling Find My Mac on again.

If you have a very old Mac running an older version of macOS, Find My Mac may not be available. The feature requires macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer. Check System Settings > General > About to see your macOS version, and update if you are running something older.

Turning off Find My Mac

If you need to turn off Find My Mac, return to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and toggle Find My Mac off. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password to confirm. Once you do, your Mac will no longer be findable through Find My.

Turning off Find My Mac does not erase any data on your device. It simply stops Apple from tracking your Mac's location. You can turn it back on at any time by following the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for Find My Mac?

No. Find My Mac is included free with every Mac and every Apple ID. There are no subscription fees or hidden costs to use it.

Can someone else turn off Find My Mac on my Mac?

Only if they know your Apple ID password. Turning off Find My Mac requires you to enter your password in System Settings, so a thief or unauthorized person cannot disable it without that password.

Will Find My Mac work if my Mac is turned off?

Find My Mac can locate your Mac even when it is powered off, but only if it has been turned on at least once in the past few days and has connected to the internet. Once your Mac is turned back on, it will show its current location immediately.

What if I sell my Mac to someone else?

Before you sell or give away your Mac, sign out of iCloud in System Settings. This removes your Apple ID from the device and disables Find My Mac. The new owner can then sign in with their own Apple ID and set up Find My Mac for themselves.

Can I use Find My Mac on a Mac I do not own?

No. You can only locate and control Macs that are signed into your Apple ID. If you try to use Find My on someone else's Mac, you will only see devices registered to your own account.