Use Find My to locate your iPhone from another Apple device
Find My is Apple's built-in system for locating lost iPhones, and it works from any other iPhone, iPad, or Mac. When you open Find My on another person's device (or your own second device), you can see your missing iPhone's location on a map in real time, play a sound to help you find it nearby, or mark it as lost so it locks automatically if someone else picks it up.
The process takes about 30 seconds once you have access to another Apple device. Your iPhone must have been set up with Find My before it goes missing — if it wasn't, you cannot locate it this way. Location Services also needs to be turned on, which you learned about in the previous guide.
Key Takeaways
- Find My works only if your iPhone was set up with it beforehand and has Location Services enabled.
- You can use any iPhone, iPad, or Mac to search for your device — you do not need your own Apple ID on that device.
- Playing a sound through Find My works even if your iPhone is on silent, which helps you locate it in your home or car.
- Marking your iPhone as lost remotely locks it and displays a message on the screen, protecting your data if someone else finds it.
Open Find My on another Apple device
On the iPhone or iPad you are using to search, open the Find My app. It has a blue icon with a radar-like circle. If you do not see it on the home screen, swipe down and search for "Find My" in the search box.
On a Mac, open the Find My app from the Applications folder or search for it using Spotlight (press Command + Space, type "Find My", then press Enter).
When Find My opens, you will see tabs at the bottom of the screen on iPhone and iPad, or along the top on Mac. Tap or click the Devices tab to see a list of all devices connected to your Apple ID.
Select your missing iPhone from the device list
In the Devices tab, you will see every iPhone, iPad, and Mac that is registered to your Apple ID. Tap or click the name of the iPhone you are looking for. If you have multiple iPhones, make sure you select the correct one — the name usually matches what you set it to in Settings.
Once you select your device, a map will appear showing its location. A blue dot marks where your iPhone is right now. If the dot is moving, your iPhone is with someone who is carrying it. If it is stationary, your phone is in one place.
Play a sound to locate your iPhone nearby
If your missing iPhone is somewhere in your home, car, or office, tap or click Play Sound. Your iPhone will emit a loud alarm for two minutes, even if it is set to silent mode. This is the fastest way to find a phone that is close by but hidden under a couch cushion, in a bag, or behind furniture.
The sound will continue for the full two minutes unless you tap Stop on the Find My screen. You do not need to touch your iPhone to stop it — controlling it from Find My is enough.
Mark your iPhone as lost if you cannot find it
If the map shows your iPhone is far away or in an unfamiliar location, tap or click Mark as Missing. This locks your iPhone remotely and displays a message on its screen with a phone number where you can be reached. Anyone who picks up your phone will see this message.
When you mark your iPhone as missing, it also stops sharing your location with other people and disables Wallet so no one can use Apple Pay. Your iPhone will continue to send location data to Apple's servers, so you can keep tracking it even after it locks.
What to do if Find My shows no location
If your iPhone appears in the Devices list but shows "Location Not Available" or "No Location Found", your phone is either powered off, has no internet connection, or Location Services is turned off. If your iPhone has been off for more than a few hours, Find My may show its last known location instead of a current one.
In this case, you have two options: wait for your iPhone to power back on or connect to the internet, or contact your phone carrier and local police to report it lost or stolen. If you believe someone took your phone, you can also use Find My to remotely erase it by tapping Erase This Device, though this will delete all your data and prevent you from locating it further.
Set up Find My on your iPhone before you need it
Find My works only if it was enabled when you first set up your iPhone. To check whether it is already on, open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap Find My. You should see Find My iPhone listed with a toggle switch next to it. If the toggle is green, Find My is active.
If Find My is not turned on and your iPhone is not lost, turn it on now. Open Settings, tap your name, tap Find My, tap Find My iPhone, and toggle it on. You will need to enter your Apple ID password. Once it is on, your iPhone will be findable from any other Apple device for as long as Find My remains enabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my iPhone if I do not have another Apple device?
No, Find My requires an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to search. If you do not have access to another Apple device, you can visit iCloud.com on any computer with a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Find My to locate your iPhone that way.
Will Find My work if my iPhone is turned off?
Find My will show your iPhone's last known location before it powered off. Once it turns back on and connects to the internet, the location will update. If your iPhone has been off for several hours, the last known location may be several hours old.
Can someone else use Find My to track my iPhone without my permission?
No. Find My only shows devices connected to your Apple ID. Another person would need your Apple ID password to see your iPhone's location. If you share your Apple ID with family members, they can see your device's location through Family Sharing.
What happens to my data if I mark my iPhone as missing?
Marking your iPhone as missing locks it and displays a custom message, but does not erase your data. Your photos, messages, and files remain on the phone. If you later find it, you can unlock it with your passcode. Only the Erase This Device option permanently deletes your data.
Does Find My work if my iPhone has no cellular service?
Find My works as long as your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi, even without cellular service. If your phone is completely offline with no Wi-Fi connection, Find My will show its last known location but cannot update it until it reconnects to the internet.