Where to find your phone when it goes missing
Both iPhone and Android phones have built-in tools that let you locate your device from another phone, computer, or web browser. On iPhones, this tool is called Find My. On Android phones, it's called Find My Mobile (Samsung) or Find My Device (Google). These tools work by using your phone's location services to pinpoint where your device is on a map, make it ring loudly, lock it remotely, or erase it if it's been stolen.
The catch is that you have to set up these tools before your phone goes missing. If you haven't done that yet, you can still search for your phone, but your options are more limited. This guide covers both scenarios: what to do if you're already set up, and what to do if you're not.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users can locate their device through iCloud.com or the Find My app on another Apple device, as long as Find My was turned on before the phone went missing.
- Android users can locate their device through google.com/android/find or the Find My Mobile app (Samsung) or Find My Device app (Google), depending on their phone brand.
- You need to have location services and the find tool turned on before your phone disappears; turning it on after the fact won't work.
- If your phone is offline or the battery is dead, the last known location will still show for a limited time.
- You can make your phone ring at full volume, lock it with a new password, or erase it remotely if you believe it's been stolen.
Finding an iPhone using Find My
If you have an iPhone and Find My was already turned on, go to iCloud.com from any computer or another Apple device. Sign in with the same Apple ID you use on your missing phone. Click Find My iPhone (or just Find My on newer versions). A map will appear showing your phone's location, along with a list of all your Apple devices.
From this screen, you can select your missing iPhone and choose from three actions. Play Sound makes your phone ring at maximum volume for two minutes, even if it's on silent. Lost Mode locks your phone with a passcode and displays a message on the lock screen with a phone number someone can call if they find it. Erase iPhone wipes all data from your device remotely, which you should only do if you're certain it's been stolen and you can't recover it.
If your phone is offline or out of battery, Find My will show you the last location where it was connected. This information stays available for up to 24 hours after the device goes offline. If someone turns your phone back on and it connects to the internet, you'll get a notification and the map will update.
Finding an Android phone using Find My Device or Find My Mobile
Android phones use different tools depending on the manufacturer. Most modern Android phones come with Find My Device, which is Google's built-in tool. Samsung phones have their own version called Find My Mobile. Both work similarly, but you access them through different websites.
For Google's Find My Device, go to google.com/android/find from any computer or phone. Sign in with the Google account linked to your missing phone. A map will show your phone's location. You can select your device and choose Play a sound to make it ring, Secure your device to lock it with a new password, or Erase your device to wipe it remotely.
If you have a Samsung phone, go to findmymobile.samsung.com instead. Sign in with your Samsung account. The interface is similar: you'll see a map with your phone's location and options to ring it, lock it, or erase it. Samsung's tool also lets you back up your data before erasing, which can be helpful if you recover the phone later.
What to do if you didn't set up Find My beforehand
If your phone wasn't set up with Find My or Find My Device before it went missing, you can't locate it using those tools. However, you have other options. If you use Google services on your Android phone, Google may have location history saved. Go to myactivity.google.com, click Other Google Activity, then Location Settings to see if your phone's last known location is recorded there.
For iPhones without Find My enabled, you have very limited options. If you use iCloud and have location services turned on, there's a small chance iCloud has some location data, but it's not may provide. Your best bet is to contact your phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) and ask if they can ping your phone's location. Some carriers can do this for theft or emergency situations, though they may require a police report.
Going forward, turn on Find My or Find My Device immediately on your replacement phone. On iPhones, go to Settings > Your Name > Find My and toggle on Find My iPhone. On Android, go to Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Security and make sure Find My Device is turned on.
Making your phone ring to find it nearby
If you think your phone is close by—under a couch cushion, in a car, or in another room—use the Play Sound or Play a sound option from Find My. This makes your phone ring at full volume for two minutes, even if you set it to silent mode. The sound is loud enough to hear through walls and furniture in most cases.
If your phone is in airplane mode or has Bluetooth turned off, it still won't ring. The phone needs to be powered on and connected to the internet (or at least to cellular service) for the sound to work. If your phone's battery is completely dead, this won't work either, and you'll need to wait until someone charges it or you find it manually.
Locking your phone remotely if it's been stolen
If you believe your phone has been stolen rather than just lost, use the lock option (called Lost Mode on iPhone or Secure your device on Android) to prevent someone from accessing your data. This locks your phone with a new passcode that only you know. You can also display a custom message on the lock screen, like "This phone is lost. Call [your number]."
Locking your phone remotely does not erase your data—it just prevents access. This is useful if you think you might recover the phone, because all your photos, messages, and files will still be there. If you lock your phone and then find it, you can unlock it using your Apple ID (iPhone) or Google account (Android).
After locking your phone, consider filing a police report. Many phone carriers and insurance companies require a police report number before they'll replace a stolen phone. Keep the report number handy in case you need it later.
Erasing your phone remotely as a last resort
If you're certain your phone has been stolen and you don't think you'll recover it, you can erase all data from it remotely. This wipes your photos, messages, contacts, and apps, leaving the phone in a factory reset state. Once you erase a phone, you cannot undo it, so only do this if you're absolutely sure.
Erasing your phone remotely does not prevent someone from using it—they can still set it up as a new device. It only protects your personal data from being accessed. If you want to prevent someone from using the phone at all, you need to contact your carrier and report it as stolen so they can blacklist the device on their network.
Before you erase, make sure you have a backup of your data. iPhones automatically back up to iCloud if you're signed in. Android phones back up to Google Drive if you have a Google account. You can check your backups before erasing to make sure your important files are saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my phone if it's turned off?
No. Your phone must be powered on and connected to the internet or cellular service for Find My to locate it. If the battery is dead, the last known location will show for up to 24 hours, but the phone won't update its position. Once the phone is turned back on, you'll get a notification and the map will refresh.
What if my phone is in another country?
Find My works internationally as long as your phone has an internet connection or cellular service in that country. The map will show its location anywhere in the world. However, if your phone is in airplane mode or has no signal, it won't update its location.
Can someone else use Find My to locate my phone without my permission?
No. They would need to sign in with your Apple ID (iPhone) or Google account (Android), which requires your password. If you're worried someone has access to your account, change your password immediately and enable two-factor authentication.
Will Find My work if my phone is on WiFi instead of cellular?
Yes. Find My works on any internet connection—WiFi, cellular, or both. As long as your phone is connected to the internet in some way, it can be located and controlled remotely.
What should I do after I find my phone?
If you used Lost Mode to lock it, unlock it with your Apple ID or Google account password. If you erased it, you'll need to set it up again from scratch or restore it from your backup. Change any passwords you think might have been compromised, and consider enabling two-factor authentication on important accounts for extra security.