Use your phone's built-in location tools before anything else
The fastest way to find a lost phone is through the location service you set up when you turned location services on. Both Android and iPhone have free tools built into the operating system that let you locate your device from another phone, tablet, or computer — and they work even if your phone is on silent.
On iPhone, use Find My iPhone through iCloud.com or ask Siri on another Apple device to find it. On Android, use Find My Mobile through your Google account at google.com/android/find. Both services show your phone's location on a map in real time. If your phone is nearby, you can make it play a sound at full volume to help you locate it physically.
These tools work best if you set them up before you lose your phone. If you haven't done that yet, you'll need to use a different method — but setting them up now will protect you next time.
Key Takeaways
- Find My iPhone and Find My Mobile are free built-in tools that show your phone's location on a map and can make it ring at full volume.
- If your phone is off or the battery is dead, location services won't work, but some carriers can show you the last known location.
- Contact your phone's carrier directly — they have records of which cell tower your phone last connected to and can narrow down the area.
- If you believe your phone was stolen rather than lost, file a police report and ask your carrier to blacklist the device so it cannot be used on any network.
- Turning on location services and setting up Find My before you lose your phone makes recovery much faster.
Check with your phone carrier if the built-in tools don't work
If your phone is powered off, has a dead battery, or you never set up Find My iPhone or Find My Mobile, your carrier can still help. Call your carrier's customer service number (on your bill or their website) and tell them your phone is lost. They can see which cell tower your phone last connected to, which narrows the search area significantly.
Your carrier can also tell you whether your phone is still connecting to the network. If it is, they know roughly where it is. If it isn't, they know when it last connected and from where. This information is most useful if you lost your phone nearby — at home, at work, or in a specific neighborhood — because it confirms whether you should search that area or assume the phone has been taken elsewhere.
Carriers can also suspend your service when ready to prevent someone from using your phone to make calls or send messages. Ask them to do this while you search, then reactivate once you find it.
Search your home and when ready surroundings first
Before assuming your phone is lost outside, search the places you've been in the last few hours. Check under couch cushions, in jacket pockets, between car seats, in the bathroom, and on nightstands. Phones often end up in places we set them down without thinking.
If you have a smart speaker (Amazon Alexa, Google Home), you can ask it to call your phone by name. Say "Alexa, call my phone" or "Hey Google, call my phone" and your phone will ring even if it's on silent. This works if your phone is still in your home and connected to your Wi-Fi network.
Check with people you were with recently. If you were at a restaurant, store, or friend's house, call them and ask whether your phone was turned in to lost and found or left behind. Many businesses hold phones for several days before discarding them.
File a police report if you believe your phone was stolen
If you're certain your phone was stolen rather than lost, file a report with your local police department. You don't need to do this in person — most departments accept reports online or by phone. Provide the phone's model, color, and serial number (usually on the original box or receipt).
A police report creates an official record that can help if someone tries to sell your phone or use it fraudulently. It also gives you documentation for your insurance claim if your phone is covered under a homeowner's or renter's policy.
After filing a report, ask your carrier to blacklist the device using its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This prevents the phone from connecting to any carrier's network, even if someone replaces the SIM card. Your carrier can provide the IMEI number, or you can find it on your original receipt or box.
Protect your accounts and data while your phone is missing
While you're searching for your phone, change the passwords on accounts that were logged in on it. Start with email, banking, and social media, since these are the accounts someone could use to access other services. Use a computer or a different device to change these passwords.
If your phone had payment apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or your bank's app, contact your bank and card issuer to report the phone lost. They can freeze or cancel the cards linked to those apps so they can't be used without your permission.
Check your phone's cloud backup settings. If you use iCloud (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android), your photos, contacts, and messages are already backed up. If your phone is not recovered, you can restore this data to a new phone later.
Replace your phone if it's not found within a few days
If location services, your carrier, and local searches don't turn up your phone within 48 to 72 hours, it's time to assume it's gone and plan a replacement. Contact your carrier to discuss your options: you may be may be able to access for a discounted replacement phone, or you may need to purchase one outright.
Before you buy a new phone, decide whether to stick with the same carrier or switch. If you're switching, ask your current carrier to transfer your phone number to the new carrier. This process usually takes a few hours to a day.
Once you have a new phone, set up Find My iPhone or Find My Mobile when ready, before you lose it again. Also turn on automatic cloud backups so your data is protected if this happens a second time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my phone if it's turned off?
No, Find My iPhone and Find My Mobile only work when your phone is powered on. However, your carrier can tell you the last cell tower your phone connected to before it powered off, which narrows the search area. If your phone turns back on later, the location service will resume tracking it.
What if someone else has my phone and they know my password?
Change your passwords from another device when ready, starting with email and banking. Once you change your email password, the person with your phone cannot use your email to reset other passwords. Contact your bank and payment apps to freeze accounts. If you set up Find My before losing the phone, you can remotely erase it to protect your data.
Will my phone carrier charge me to help me find my phone?
No, carriers do not charge for locating a lost phone or suspending service. However, if you want to replace the phone through your carrier, you may pay a replacement fee or upgrade cost depending on your plan and contract.
Can I find my phone if location services are turned off?
No, Find My requires location services to be on. However, your carrier can still provide the last known location based on cell tower data. This is why turning on location services before you lose your phone is important — it gives you a much faster way to find it.
What should I do if I find my phone after I've already reported it stolen?
Contact the police department that took your report and let them know you found it. You can do this by phone or in person. Also contact your carrier to reactivate your service if you suspended it. Change your passwords again since you reported the phone stolen and may have changed them already.