Adding a device to Find My iPhone

To add a device to Find My iPhone, you sign in with your Apple ID on that device, then turn on Find My iPhone in its settings. The device automatically joins your iCloud account and becomes visible in the Find My app on any of your other Apple devices. You do not need to do anything else — once location services are on (which you set up from the previous guide), the new device will start reporting its location within a few minutes.

The process is the same whether you are adding an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or AirPods. Each device needs its own Apple ID sign-in, but they all report to the same Find My app once they are linked to your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Every device you want to track must be signed into the same Apple ID that you use on your other devices.
  • Find My iPhone is turned on in Settings under your name, then iCloud, then Find My, and must be enabled on each device separately.
  • The device will appear in your Find My app within a few minutes of being added, but only if location services are already on.
  • You can add up to 32 devices to a single Apple ID account.
  • A device that is powered off, in airplane mode, or offline will show its last known location instead of a live one.

Sign in with your Apple ID on the new device

Before Find My iPhone can track a device, that device must be signed into your Apple ID. If you are setting up a brand new device, you will be asked for your Apple ID during the initial setup — enter the same ID you use on your other Apple devices.

If the device is already set up under a different Apple ID, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. You will be asked whether to keep or delete your data — choose based on whether you want to preserve photos, contacts, and other information on that device. Then sign back in with your main Apple ID.

On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then click Sign Out. Follow the same process: choose whether to keep your data, then sign in with your main Apple ID.

Turn on Find My iPhone in Settings

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the very top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down until you see Find My iPhone and tap it. Toggle the switch to on — it will turn green. You may be asked to confirm your Apple ID password; enter it and tap Allow.

On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then click iCloud. In the list on the right, find Find My Mac and toggle it on. You will be asked to confirm your password.

On an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Privacy, and toggle on Find My. The watch will use your iPhone's location until you are far enough away that it connects to Wi-Fi on its own.

On AirPods, open the Find My app on any device already signed into your account, tap Devices at the bottom, then tap Add Device. Select your AirPods from the list and follow the on-screen steps. AirPods do not have a settings menu of their own — they are managed entirely through Find My.

Wait for the device to appear in Find My

Once you have signed in and turned on Find My, the new device will appear in your Find My app within two to five minutes. Open Find My on any of your other devices, tap Devices at the bottom, and you should see the new device listed with its current location.

If the device does not appear after ten minutes, make sure location services are turned on. Go back to Settings, tap Privacy (or Privacy & Security on newer models), tap Location Services, and toggle it on. Then check that Find My has permission to use location — scroll down in that same menu, find Find My, and make sure it is set to Always or While Using.

If location services are on and the device still does not appear, restart the device and wait another few minutes. A device that is in airplane mode, powered off, or has no internet connection will not report its location, though Find My will show where it was last seen.

What to do if a device is already in use

If you are adding a device that someone else has been using, that device may still be signed into their Apple ID. You cannot add it to your Find My until it is signed out of their account. Ask them to sign out, or if you do not have contact with them, you can erase the device and set it up fresh with your Apple ID.

To erase a device remotely using Find My, open the Find My app, tap Devices, select the device you want to erase, scroll down, and tap Erase This Device. This will wipe all data and sign it out of the previous owner's account. You can then set it up as new and sign in with your own Apple ID.

Be aware that erasing a device is permanent and cannot be undone. Only do this if you own the device or have permission from the person who does.

Managing multiple devices in Find My

Once you have added several devices, the Find My app shows them all on a single map. Tap any device name to see its exact location, and you can zoom in or out to see multiple devices at once. Devices are color-coded by type — iPhones appear as one color, Macs as another, and so on.

If you no longer want to track a device, tap it in the Devices list, scroll down, and tap Remove This Device. The device will no longer appear in Find My, though it will continue to work normally. You can add it back at any time by turning Find My back on in its settings.

If a device is lost or stolen, you can use Find My to play a sound on it, lock it remotely, or erase it. Tap the device, then tap Actions at the bottom. These options work even if the device is offline — the action will happen the next time it connects to the internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone else's device to my Find My?

No. A device can only be tracked through the Apple ID that is signed into it. If you want to track a family member's device, they must sign into their own Apple ID on that device, then you can see it in Family Sharing if you set that up. Family Sharing lets parents track children's devices without needing their passwords.

What happens if I turn off Find My on a device?

The device will no longer report its location to Find My, and it will disappear from your Devices list. You can turn it back on at any time by going to Settings and toggling Find My back on. The device will reappear within a few minutes.

Can I track a device that is turned off?

No, but Find My will show you the last location where it was seen before it powered down. If the device has an internet connection when it turns back on, it will report its new location automatically.

How many devices can I add to one Apple ID?

You can add up to 32 devices to a single Apple ID. If you reach that limit, you will need to remove a device before adding a new one.

Do I need to pay anything to use Find My?

No. Find My is built into every Apple device and is free to use. You only need an Apple ID, which is also free.