Open Find My and search for your device
To find your iPhone, open the Find My app on another Apple device — an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone. Tap or click the Devices tab at the bottom or side of the screen. You will see a list of all devices linked to your Apple ID. Select your iPhone from the list.
The map will show your iPhone's current location as a blue dot. If your iPhone is powered on and connected to the internet — either through Wi-Fi or cellular — the location updates in real time. If it is offline, Find My shows the last known location before it went offline, along with the time that location was recorded.
You do not need to have set up Find My in advance for this to work. As long as your iPhone is signed into your Apple ID and Find My is enabled in Settings, any of your other devices can locate it immediately.
Key Takeaways
- Open Find My on an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone, tap Devices, and select your missing iPhone to see its location on a map.
- Your iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data for Find My to show its current location.
- If your iPhone is offline, Find My displays the last known location and the time it was recorded.
- You can play a sound on your iPhone, lock it remotely, or erase it from the Find My app if you cannot retrieve it.
- Find My works only if your iPhone is signed into your Apple ID and Find My is turned on in Settings.
Make your iPhone play a sound to help you locate it
If your iPhone is nearby but you cannot see it — under a couch cushion, in a bag, or in another room — you can make it emit a loud sound. In the Find My app, select your iPhone and tap Play Sound. Your iPhone will play a loud alert for two minutes, even if it is on silent mode.
This feature works only if your iPhone is powered on and has an internet connection. The sound will continue for the full two minutes or until you stop it from the Find My app. If your iPhone is in a noisy environment or the battery is very low, you may not hear it, but the sound will still play.
Lock your iPhone remotely if you cannot retrieve it
If your iPhone is lost and you cannot reach it, you can lock it from the Find My app to prevent someone else from accessing your data. Select your iPhone in Find My, then tap Mark as Lost or Activate (the exact wording depends on your iOS version). You can set a custom message and phone number that will appear on the lock screen.
Once you mark your iPhone as lost, it will be locked with your passcode. Anyone who picks it up will see your custom message and the phone number you provided. They can call that number to reach you, but they cannot access your photos, messages, or other personal information without your passcode.
Your iPhone will continue to send location data to Find My even after it is locked. This means you can still track where it is, even if someone has it and tries to use it.
Erase your iPhone remotely as a last resort
If you believe your iPhone is permanently lost or stolen and you do not want anyone to access your data, you can erase it remotely from Find My. Select your iPhone, then tap Erase This Device. This will delete all data on your iPhone — photos, messages, contacts, and everything else — and restore it to factory settings.
Once you erase your iPhone, you will no longer be able to locate it using Find My. You also will not be able to recover any data that was not backed up to iCloud. Use this option only when you are certain you cannot retrieve your iPhone and you want to ensure no one can access your personal information.
After erasing, if someone finds your iPhone and powers it on, they will see the setup screen as if it were brand new. They will not be able to use it without your Apple ID and password.
Check that Find My is turned on in your iPhone's settings
For Find My to work, your iPhone must have Find My enabled. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name (at the top) > Find My. You will see two toggles: Find My iPhone and Find My Network. Both should be turned on (green).
Find My iPhone is the core feature that lets other devices locate your iPhone. Find My Network allows your iPhone to be found even if it is offline, by using the Bluetooth signals from nearby Apple devices. Turning on Find My Network increases your chances of locating your iPhone if it loses internet connection.
If either toggle is off, tap it to turn it on. You will need to enter your Apple ID password to confirm. Once both are enabled, your iPhone can be located from any of your other devices at any time.
Use iCloud.com if you do not have another Apple device
If you do not have an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone nearby, you can locate your device from any web browser. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Find My iPhone (or Find My on newer versions). Select your iPhone from the list of devices.
The map will show your iPhone's location just as it does in the Find My app. From iCloud.com, you can also play a sound, mark your iPhone as lost, or erase it remotely. This is useful if you are at work, at a friend's house, or anywhere without your own Apple devices.
You will need to remember your Apple ID and password to sign in. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your account, you will receive a verification code on one of your trusted devices before you can access iCloud.com.
What to do if Find My shows your iPhone offline
If the map shows your iPhone as offline, it means your device is either powered off or not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. Find My will display the last location where your iPhone had an internet connection, along with a timestamp showing when that was.
If your iPhone is lost in a location you can reach — your home, workplace, or a friend's house — you can go to that last known location and search for it. If your iPhone is in an area you cannot access or if the last known location is far away, you may need to contact local authorities or your mobile carrier for further help.
Keep in mind that if your iPhone's battery is completely drained, it will appear offline. Once someone charges it, it will reconnect to the internet and send an updated location to Find My.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my iPhone if it is turned off?
No, Find My cannot locate an iPhone that is powered off. However, if your iPhone has been off for a while and someone charges it, it will reconnect to the internet and send its location to Find My. The last known location before it powered off will remain visible in the app.
Does the person with my iPhone know I am tracking it?
No, Find My does not send any notification to the iPhone itself when you are tracking it. The person holding your iPhone will not receive an alert or message saying they are being located. However, if you mark your iPhone as lost or erase it, those actions may be noticeable.
What if my iPhone location is not updating?
If the location is not updating, your iPhone may not have an active internet connection. Check that Wi-Fi or cellular data is turned on. If your iPhone is in airplane mode or has no signal, Find My will show only the last known location. Restart your iPhone if possible, or move it to an area with better coverage.
Can I find someone else's iPhone using Find My?
No, you can only locate devices that are linked to your own Apple ID. You cannot track another person's iPhone unless they have shared their location with you through a different method, such as the Reminders app or Messages. Find My is designed to help you find your own devices only.
Will Find My work if my iPhone has no cellular service?
Yes, as long as your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi, Find My will work and show its location. If your iPhone has neither Wi-Fi nor cellular service, it will appear offline, and Find My will show the last known location before it lost connection.