Use your phone's built-in location service to find it
Your phone has a location-finding tool built in, and it works even when your phone is locked or silent. On Android, Google's Find My Mobile locates your device on a map. On iPhone, Apple's Find My does the same thing. Both services work through the internet — your phone sends its location to a server, and you see it on another device or a website.
The catch is that you have to turn on location services before you lose your phone. If location services are already off, you cannot turn them on remotely. That is why the previous guide covered turning location services on — it is the setup step that makes finding your phone possible later.
If you did turn on location services, the process takes about two minutes. You do not need your phone to do it. You use a computer, tablet, or someone else's phone instead.
Key Takeaways
- Google Find My Mobile and Apple Find My both show your phone's location on a map, but only if location services were already turned on.
- You access these services from a computer or another device — not from the lost phone itself.
- If your phone is offline or the battery is dead, the last known location still appears on the map.
- Both services let you lock your phone, erase it, or play a sound to help you find it nearby.
- If location services are off, you will need to contact your phone company or local police to report the phone as lost or stolen.
Finding an Android phone with Google Find My Mobile
Go to findmymobile.google.com from any computer or web browser. Sign in with the Google account linked to your lost phone — the same account you use for Gmail, Google Play, or any other Google service on that phone.
The map will show your phone's current location or the last place it connected to the internet. If your phone is nearby, tap Play Sound to make it ring at full volume for five minutes, even if it is set to silent. If you think someone else has it, tap find Device to lock it with a new password, or tap Erase Device to wipe all the data on it.
Google Find My Mobile also works on tablets and smartwatches that use Android. The process is the same — sign in with your Google account and the map appears.
Finding an iPhone with Apple Find My
Go to iCloud.com from any computer or web browser. Sign in with your Apple ID — the account you use for iCloud, the App Store, or Apple Music on your iPhone.
Click Find My in the menu. A map will show your iPhone's location or the last place it was online. Click Play Sound to make it ring for two minutes at full volume. If you think it is lost for good, click Mark as Lost to lock it and display a message on the screen with a phone number someone can call. Click Erase iPhone if you want to delete all the data on it.
You can also use the Find My app on another Apple device — an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch — instead of going to iCloud.com. The steps are the same.
What to do if your phone is offline or the battery is dead
Both Google Find My Mobile and Apple Find My show the last location where your phone connected to the internet, even if it is now offline or out of battery. This location is usually accurate within a few hundred feet, depending on whether your phone was using GPS, cell towers, or Wi-Fi to determine where it was.
If your phone has been offline for a while, the last known location may be several hours or days old. Check that location first — it is often where you last had the phone in your hands. If you find nothing there, the phone may have been moved or turned off intentionally.
Some phones also have a feature that sends location data even when the battery is very low. On newer iPhones, this is called Find My network, and it uses other Apple devices nearby to relay your phone's location. Android phones do not have an exact equivalent, but some carriers offer their own location services as a backup.
Using your phone company's location service
If location services are turned off on your phone, Google Find My Mobile and Apple Find My will not work. Your phone company — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another carrier — may have its own location service that works differently.
Call your phone company's customer service number and tell them your phone is lost. Ask whether they offer a location service. Some carriers can locate your phone using cell tower data, which does not require you to have turned on location services. Others cannot. The answer depends on your carrier and your plan.
If your carrier can locate your phone, they will usually give you the location over the phone or send it to you by text or email. They may ask you to verify your account information or answer security questions before they share the location.
Reporting your phone as lost or stolen
If you cannot find your phone using location services or your carrier, contact your local police department and file a report. You will need your phone's serial number, which is printed on the box it came in or on your carrier's bill. The police report creates an official record and may help if someone tries to use your phone or sell it.
After filing a report, contact your phone company and ask them to suspend your phone number. This stops someone from making calls or using data on your account. You can usually do this by calling customer service or logging into your account online. Suspending the number is not the same as canceling your service — you can reactivate it later if you find the phone.
If you think your phone was stolen rather than lost, also contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know. If you used your phone for banking or stored payment information on it, they may want to monitor your accounts for fraud.
Setting up location services now to prepare for the future
If you have not already turned on location services, do it now. On Android, go to Settings > Location and turn it on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn it on. You do not have to turn on location for every app — just having the service turned on at the system level is enough for Find My Mobile or Find My to work.
You should also make sure you are signed into your Google account (on Android) or Apple ID (on iPhone). These accounts are what let you access the location service from another device. If you are not signed in, the location service has nowhere to send your phone's location.
Some people worry that turning on location services drains the battery faster. Modern phones are designed to use location efficiently, and the battery impact is usually small — a few percent per day. The ability to find your phone if it is lost is worth that trade-off for most people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my phone if someone turned off location services?
No, not through Google Find My Mobile or Apple Find My. If location services are off, those tools cannot locate your phone. Your phone company may be able to locate it using cell tower data, but not all carriers offer this. If you cannot find it that way, file a police report.
Will Find My work if my phone is in airplane mode?
No. Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections, including the internet connection that Find My needs to send your phone's location. If your phone is in airplane mode, the last known location will appear on the map, but it will not update.
What if someone else has my phone and they know my password?
If they sign into your Google account or Apple ID on your phone, they can access Find My and see that you are trying to locate it. To prevent this, use the find Device or Mark as Lost option to lock your phone with a new password before the person can sign in. You can also erase the phone remotely if you think it is gone for good.
Does Find My work if my phone is turned off?
Not while it is off. However, the last known location still appears on the map. Some newer iPhones can send location data for a short time after being turned off, but this only works if the battery has enough charge. Android phones do not have this feature.
Can I find my phone if it is in another country?
Yes, as long as it is connected to the internet. Google Find My Mobile and Apple Find My work worldwide. The location will appear on the map just as it would if your phone were across town. However, if your phone is in another country and you cannot retrieve it, your phone company may charge you for international roaming if the phone is still active on your account.