Use your phone's built-in location service before anything else
The fastest way to find your phone is through a service your phone manufacturer already built in. If you have an iPhone, use Find My iPhone through iCloud.com or another Apple device. If you have an Android phone, use Find My Mobile through Google's website or the Find My Mobile app if your phone is Samsung.
These services work only if you turned on location services before you lost your phone — which is why doing that now, while you still have your phone, matters. Open your phone's Settings, search for "Location" or "Location Services", and turn it on. On iPhone, also go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure Find My is enabled. On Android, go to Settings > Location and turn it on.
Once location is on, your phone sends its position to the manufacturer's servers. When you log into the website from another device, you see your phone's location on a map. You can also make your phone ring at full volume even if it's on silent, which helps you find it in your house or car.
Key Takeaways
- Find My iPhone (through iCloud.com) and Find My Mobile (through Google or Samsung) show your phone's location on a map if location services were turned on before you lost it.
- You can make your phone ring at full volume from the website, even if the ringer is off, to help you locate it nearby.
- If your phone is off or the battery is dead, location services stop working, but some services show you the last known location.
- Contact your phone company to report the phone lost or stolen so they can block it from being used on their network.
- If you never turned on location services, you have no way to find your phone remotely, which is why setting it up now prevents future problems.
What to do if your phone is off or the battery died
If your phone is powered off or completely out of battery, location services stop sending updates. However, both Apple and Google show you the last location your phone reported before it went dark. This is often enough to narrow down where to search — your home, your workplace, a store you visited.
Some phones also have a feature that sends location data even when the battery is critically low. On newer iPhones, Find My can locate your phone for up to an hour after the battery dies. On Android, this depends on your phone model and manufacturer, so check your phone's settings to see if a low-battery location feature exists.
Finding your phone through your phone company
Your phone company — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another carrier — can sometimes locate your phone using cell tower data. This is less precise than GPS location but can narrow down a general area. Call your phone company's customer service line and tell them your phone is lost. They may be able to ping your phone's location.
More importantly, contact your phone company to report the phone lost or stolen. They can block your phone from being used on their network, which prevents someone else from making calls or using data on your account. This step protects you from unexpected charges and limits what a thief can do with your phone.
Using Find My Friends or location-sharing apps
If you set up location sharing with family or friends before losing your phone, those people can see your phone's location. On iPhone, this is done through Find My Friends or the Find My app. On Android, Google Family Link and Google Maps location sharing both show where your phone is.
Text or call someone you share location with and ask them to check where your phone is showing up. This works even if you don't have access to another device right now. If you haven't set this up yet, do it today with at least one trusted person — it's useful not just for lost phones but for family safety.
What to do if you cannot find your phone remotely
If your phone is not showing up on any location service, it may be off, have a dead battery, or location services may never have been turned on. Retrace your steps: think about where you were when you last used it, and check those places in person. Check your car, your home, your workplace, and anywhere you stopped during the day.
Call your phone number from another phone. If someone answers, you've found it. If it goes to voicemail, the phone is off or out of battery. If you hear it ringing nearby, follow the sound. Many phones are found this way in couches, under car seats, or in jacket pockets.
If you still cannot find it after checking these places, assume it is lost or stolen. Contact your phone company to block it, and consider filing a report with local police if you believe it was stolen. Then contact your bank and any services where you saved payment information to alert them that your phone is missing.
Protecting your phone and data after it is lost
Once you've reported your phone lost to your carrier and the manufacturer, you can remotely erase it through Find My iPhone or Find My Mobile. This deletes all your personal data so someone who finds it cannot access your photos, messages, or saved passwords. Do this if you are certain you will not find the phone, because erasing it makes it impossible to locate later.
Change your passwords for email, banking, and other important accounts from another device. If your phone had access to these accounts, a thief could use that access. Pay special attention to your email password, because email is often the key to resetting passwords for other services.
Check your phone company's fraud protection. Most carriers offer free monitoring for a limited time after a phone is reported lost or stolen. They watch for unusual activity on your account and alert you if someone tries to use your phone number.
Setting up location services now to prevent future problems
The best time to prepare for a lost phone is before you lose one. Turn on location services today. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle it on, then go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My and make sure Find My iPhone is on. On Android, go to Settings > Location and turn it on, then open the Google Find My Mobile app and sign in.
Set up location sharing with at least one family member or trusted friend. On iPhone, open Find My and tap the People tab, then tap Share My Location. On Android, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Location Sharing, and add someone you trust. This takes five minutes and gives you a backup way to find your phone if the main service fails.
Write down your phone's IMEI number and keep it somewhere safe, like a note in your email or a photo in your cloud storage. Your IMEI is a unique identifier for your phone that your carrier uses to block stolen phones. You can find it by dialing *#06# on your phone, or by going to Settings > About Phone on Android or Settings > General > About on iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my phone if I never turned on location services?
No. Without location services enabled before the phone was lost, there is no way to find it remotely. Your only options are to retrace your steps in person, call the phone to see if someone answers, or contact your phone company to see if they can narrow down a general area using cell tower data. This is why turning on location services now matters.
What's the difference between Find My iPhone and Find My Mobile?
Find My iPhone is Apple's service for locating iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers through iCloud.com. Find My Mobile is Samsung's service for Samsung phones and tablets. Google also offers Find My Mobile for all Android phones through google.com/android/find. Each works only with that manufacturer's devices, so use whichever matches your phone brand.
If I erase my phone remotely, can I still find it?
No. Erasing your phone remotely deletes all data and makes it impossible to locate. Only erase your phone if you are certain you will not find it and you are concerned about someone accessing your personal information. Once erased, the phone is essentially a blank device.
Will my phone company charge me if I report it lost?
Your phone company will not charge you for reporting a phone lost. However, they may charge you for a replacement phone if you need a new one. Some phone plans include insurance that covers lost or stolen phones, though there is usually a deductible. Check your plan details or call your carrier to ask.
Can I find my phone if it's turned off?
Not in real time. However, most services show the last location your phone reported before it turned off. On newer iPhones, Find My can locate your phone for up to an hour after the battery dies. Check your phone's last known location and search that area in person.