What Find My does and when to use it
Find My is Apple's built-in app that shows you where your iPhone is on a map in real time. It works whether your phone is nearby, across town, or in another country. You access it from another Apple device — an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone — or from iCloud.com on any web browser.
Find My is most useful when you've lost your phone and need to know its location before you go looking for it. It can also help you find other people's devices if they've shared their location with you, or locate family members who've agreed to share their whereabouts. The app works even if your phone is locked, asleep, or has no cellular signal, as long as it's powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network at some point.
Find My is different from other location tools because it doesn't require your phone to be unlocked or actively using an app. Apple's servers keep track of your device's last known location and can relay that information to you through Find My, even if someone else has your phone.
Key Takeaways
- Open Find My on another Apple device or go to iCloud.com on any computer to see your iPhone's location on a map.
- Find My shows your phone's real-time location if it's powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- You can play a sound on your iPhone, lock it remotely, or erase it from Find My if you believe it's been stolen.
- Find My requires you to have signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID on the iPhone you want to locate.
- If your iPhone is offline or powered off, Find My shows its last known location and can notify you when it comes back online.
How to open Find My and locate your phone
If you have another iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the Find My app — it comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. On an iPhone or iPad, tap the "Devices" tab at the bottom of the screen. On a Mac, click "Devices" in the sidebar. You'll see a list of all devices signed in to your Apple ID.
If you don't have another Apple device nearby, go to iCloud.com on any computer or phone (iPhone, Android, or Windows). Sign in with your Apple ID and password, then click "Find My iPhone" from the app grid. You'll see the same list of devices. Select your iPhone from the list, and the app will show its location on a map.
The map will display a blue dot marking your phone's current location. If your phone is offline or powered off, the map shows its last known location and displays "Offline" beneath the device name. Find My will send you a notification if your phone comes back online.
Playing a sound and using Lost Mode
If your iPhone is nearby but you can't find it — under a couch cushion, in a bag, or in another room — select your device in Find My and tap "Play Sound." Your iPhone will emit a loud alarm for two minutes, even if it's on silent mode. This works whether your phone is locked or unlocked.
If you believe your phone has been lost or stolen and you want to prevent someone from using it, tap "Activate" next to "Lost Mode." This locks your iPhone with a passcode (or Face ID or Touch ID if you already use one) and displays a custom message on the lock screen with a phone number where you can be reached. Your phone will still show its location in Find My, but no one can access your data without the passcode.
Lost Mode also stops Apple Pay and other contactless payments from working on your phone. If you later find your phone or it's returned to you, you can turn off Lost Mode from Find My and unlock it with your passcode.
Erasing your iPhone remotely
If you're certain your phone has been stolen and you don't want the person who has it to access your photos, messages, banking apps, or other personal data, you can erase it remotely from Find My. Select your device, scroll down, and tap "Erase This Device." You'll be asked to confirm your Apple ID password.
Erasing your iPhone removes all data from it and returns it to factory settings. After you erase it, you won't be able to locate it anymore using Find My. This action is permanent — you can't undo it. Only choose this option if you're confident you won't recover the phone and you've already reported it to police or your phone carrier.
If you erase your phone and it later turns up, you can set it up again as a new device or restore it from an iCloud backup if you saved one before it was lost.
What to do if Find My shows your phone offline
If Find My shows your iPhone as offline, it means your phone either has no power, no internet connection, or both. The app will display the last location where your phone was connected to the internet. This location might be several hours or even days old, depending on when your phone last had a connection.
You have two options: wait for your phone to come back online, or take action assuming it won't. If you think your phone is in a specific place — your home, your car, a friend's house — and you believe it will be powered on again soon, you can set a notification. Find My will alert you when your phone comes back online, and you can then see its current location.
If you don't think your phone will come back online on its own, activate Lost Mode or erase it as described above. Both actions will take effect as soon as your phone reconnects to the internet.
Setting up Find My before you lose your phone
Find My only works if you've already signed in to iCloud on your iPhone before it goes missing. To check whether Find My is set up, open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap "Find My." Make sure "Find My iPhone" is toggled on (the switch will be green).
You should also make sure you're signed in to iCloud. In Settings, tap your name, then "iCloud," and confirm your Apple ID is shown at the top. If you're not signed in, tap "Sign In," enter your Apple ID and password, and follow the prompts.
If you set up Find My now, before you need it, you won't have to worry about whether it's enabled when your phone goes missing. It's one of the most useful safety features on an iPhone, and it takes less than a minute to confirm it's working.
Sharing your location with family and friends
Find My also lets you share your location with specific people so they can see where you are on a map. This is useful for families who want to keep track of each other, or for coordinating meetups with friends. To share your location, open Find My, tap the "People" tab, and tap "Share My Location." Select the person you want to share with and choose how long to share — for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely.
The person you share with will see your location on their Find My app and will receive a notification that you've shared. You can stop sharing at any time by tapping the person's name and selecting "Stop Sharing My Location." Sharing is one-way — the other person sees your location, but you don't automatically see theirs unless they also choose to share with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my iPhone if it's turned off?
No, Find My cannot locate a powered-off iPhone. However, some newer iPhones have a feature called "Find My when offline" that uses Bluetooth to relay the phone's location even when it's off. Check your iPhone's settings to see if this feature is available. If your phone is off, Find My will show its last known location.
Does the person with my iPhone know I'm tracking it?
No. Find My does not send any notification to the person holding your phone. They won't know you're looking for it unless you activate Lost Mode, which displays a message on the lock screen. If you're concerned about your safety, contact local police before attempting to retrieve your phone.
What if I forgot my Apple ID password?
You can reset your Apple ID password at iforgot.apple.com. You'll need access to a trusted phone number or email address associated with your account. If you can't reset it that way, visit an Apple Store or call Apple Support for help recovering your account.
Can I use Find My to locate someone without their permission?
No. Find My only shows devices signed in to your own Apple ID, or devices whose owners have explicitly shared their location with you. You cannot track someone else's iPhone without their knowledge or consent.
Does Find My work internationally?
Yes. Find My works anywhere in the world as long as your iPhone has an internet connection. The map will show your phone's location regardless of which country it's in. However, if your phone has no cellular service and no Wi-Fi connection, Find My can only show its last known location.