Use Find My iPhone to locate your phone right now
If your iPhone is stolen, Find My iPhone is your fastest tool to locate it. Open any web browser on a computer or another device, go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Find My. Select your iPhone from the list of devices. The map will show its last known location if the phone is powered on and connected to the internet.
If the phone is off or offline, Find My still shows where it was last seen. This location can be useful information to give police or to help you retrace your steps. The accuracy depends on whether the phone has GPS, cellular, or only Wi-Fi connection — GPS is most precise, but any connection helps.
You can also use Find My from another Apple device: open the Find My app on an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone, tap Devices at the bottom, and select your stolen phone from the list.
Key Takeaways
- Find My iPhone shows your phone's location on a map if it is powered on and connected to the internet, and shows the last known location if it is off.
- You can lock your phone remotely through Find My to prevent someone from accessing your data, even if you cannot retrieve the device.
- Erase iPhone wipes all data from the phone remotely, which you should do only if you are certain you will not recover it.
- Report the theft to police and provide them with your phone's IMEI number, which you can find in Find My or on your original receipt.
- Contact your phone carrier to report the phone stolen so they can block it from being used on any network.
Lock your phone remotely to stop someone from using it
From the Find My screen, click the phone's name, then click Lock. You can set a new passcode that only you know — this prevents someone from accessing your photos, messages, banking apps, or any other data on the phone. The phone will display a message and phone number you provide, so if someone honest finds it, they can contact you.
Locking the phone does not erase anything. Your data stays on the device, but no one can open it without the new passcode you just created. This is the right choice if you think you might recover the phone or if you want to keep your data intact while police investigate.
If you locked the phone and later find it, you can unlock it again through Find My using your Apple ID.
Erase the phone only if you are certain it is gone for good
If you are sure you will not recover the phone, you can erase it remotely. From Find My, click the phone's name, then click Erase iPhone. This removes all data — photos, messages, contacts, everything — and resets the phone to factory settings. Once you erase it, you cannot undo the action, and you cannot locate the phone anymore.
Erasing is a last resort. Do it only after you have reported the theft to police and your carrier, and only if you have decided the phone is truly lost. If there is any chance you might find it or recover it, lock it instead.
Report the theft to your phone carrier
Call your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service — and tell them your phone was stolen. Give them your phone number and the phone's IMEI number, which is a 15-digit code unique to your device. You can find the IMEI in Find My by clicking the phone's name and looking for the IMEI field, or on your original receipt or box.
The carrier will block the phone from being used on their network. This means even if someone tries to use the SIM card or set up the phone on a different account, it will not work. Different carriers have different names for this service — some call it blacklisting, others call it blocking — but the result is the same: the phone becomes unusable on any major US network.
Blocking happens quickly, usually within hours. It does not prevent someone from using the phone on Wi-Fi, but it stops them from making calls or using cellular data.
File a police report and provide your IMEI
Contact your local police department and file a theft report. Bring or provide your phone number, the IMEI number, and the last known location from Find My. Police use the IMEI to track the phone through carriers and pawn shops, and they may be able to recover it if it shows up in a system.
A police report also creates an official record of the theft, which you may need for insurance purposes or if you want to pursue the phone through other channels. Some carriers and insurance companies require a police report number before they will replace the phone.
Be honest about when and where the phone went missing. The more specific you are, the more useful the information is to police.
Check your insurance and consider a replacement
If you have phone insurance through your carrier or a third-party provider like AppleCare+, check your policy for theft coverage. Some plans cover theft, others do not. If your plan covers it, you can file a claim and receive a replacement phone, usually for a deductible of $25 to $100.
Contact your insurance provider with your police report number and phone details. They will guide you through the claim process, which typically takes one to two weeks. In the meantime, you can use Find My to keep tabs on your stolen phone in case it reappears.
If you do not have insurance, you can buy a replacement phone outright or through your carrier's upgrade program. Some carriers offer discounts on replacement phones after a theft report is filed.
Prevent future theft by setting up Find My before you need it
Find My works only if you set it up before your phone is stolen. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Find My, and make sure Find My iPhone is turned on. Also turn on Send Last Location, which tells Apple to send your phone's location to Apple's servers when the battery is critically low — this can help you find the phone even if it dies.
Use a strong, unique Apple ID password and enable two-factor authentication on your Apple account. This prevents someone from accessing Find My or erasing your phone remotely if they steal both your phone and your password.
Consider adding emergency contact information to your lock screen. Go to Settings, tap Emergency SOS, and add a trusted contact's phone number. If someone finds your phone, they can call that number without unlocking it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my iPhone if it is turned off?
Find My shows the last known location where your phone was powered on and connected to the internet. If the phone is off, you cannot see its current location, but the last location can still help you narrow down where to search or what to tell police. Some newer iPhones have a feature that sends location data even when powered off, but this is not may provide.
What is an IMEI number and where do I find it?
An IMEI is a 15-digit code that uniquely identifies your phone to cellular networks. You can find it in Find My by clicking your phone's name, on your original receipt, on the phone's box, or by dialing *#06# on any phone. Your carrier also has your IMEI on file and can provide it if you ask.
Can someone use my stolen iPhone if they know my passcode?
If they know your passcode but not your Apple ID password, they can use the phone but cannot access iCloud data, make purchases, or change settings. If you lock the phone remotely through Find My, you set a new passcode that overrides the old one, so the old passcode no longer works. This is why locking the phone quickly is important.
Will my carrier replace my phone if it is stolen?
Most carriers do not replace stolen phones unless you have insurance. If you have AppleCare+ or carrier insurance, you can file a claim and receive a replacement for a deductible. Without insurance, you must buy a replacement phone yourself, though some carriers offer discounts after a theft report.
Can I track my iPhone if someone removes the SIM card?
Yes. Find My uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to locate your phone, not the SIM card. Removing the SIM card stops the phone from connecting to cellular networks, but if the phone connects to Wi-Fi, Find My can still show its location. This is another reason to lock the phone quickly — it prevents someone from connecting it to their own Wi-Fi network.