Use Find My iPhone to locate your phone on a map
If you turned on location services before your phone went missing, you can find it using Find My iPhone — Apple's built-in tracking tool. Open a web browser on any computer or another Apple device, go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Find My iPhone. A map will show your phone's location in real time, as long as it has power and a data connection.
The map shows a blue dot for your phone's current location. If your phone is nearby but you can't see it — under a couch cushion, in a car, behind furniture — you can make it play a sound at full volume for two minutes. Click your phone's name in the list on the left, then click Play Sound. The sound will play even if your phone is on silent mode.
If your phone is far away or you suspect it was stolen, the map will help you decide what to do next. A phone that moves between locations over hours or days is likely in someone else's hands. A phone that stays in one spot may have run out of battery or been turned off.
Key Takeaways
- Find My iPhone works through iCloud.com on any computer or through the Find My app on another Apple device, and shows your phone's location on a map.
- Your phone must have location services turned on, be powered on, and have an active internet connection for the map to work.
- You can make your phone play a sound at full volume to find it nearby, even if it is set to silent.
- If your phone is stolen, you can lock it remotely or erase it to protect your data before reporting it to police.
- A phone that stays in one location for hours is likely powered off or out of battery; a phone that moves is likely in someone's possession.
What to do if your phone is nearby but you can't find it
When the map shows your phone close by — in your home, car, or workplace — the sound feature is your fastest option. Click Play Sound and listen carefully. Walk through the room slowly and listen for the sound to get louder as you move closer. Check under cushions, in jacket pockets, between car seats, and in bags you use regularly.
If you still cannot hear anything after two minutes, your phone may be in a location where sound does not carry well — a basement, a closed drawer, or a bag buried under other items. Wait a few minutes and try again. Each time you click Play Sound, it plays for another two minutes.
Lock or erase your phone if it is lost or stolen
If the map shows your phone far from home or moving between locations, assume it has been taken. Before you report it to police, you can protect your data by locking or erasing it remotely through Find My iPhone.
Click your phone's name, then click Find My iPhone again. You will see three options: Play Sound, Lost Mode, and Erase iPhone. Lost Mode locks your phone with a passcode and displays a message with your phone number on the lock screen so someone who finds it can contact you. Erase iPhone deletes all data on your phone permanently — use this only if you are certain you will not recover it.
Once you erase your phone, you cannot track it anymore. Choose Lost Mode first if there is any chance you might find it or if someone honest might try to return it. Choose Erase iPhone only if you are sure the phone is gone for good and you want to protect your banking information, passwords, and personal photos.
Use Find My app on another Apple device
If you do not have access to a computer, you can use the Find My app on an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone. Open the app, tap or click the Devices tab at the bottom, and select your missing phone from the list. The map, sound, and lock options work the same way as they do on iCloud.com.
The Find My app also shows you whether your phone is online or offline. If it shows offline, your phone is either powered off or has no data connection. In that case, the map will show the last known location before it went offline — this can still be useful information if you are searching your home or asking police to check a specific address.
Report your phone to police and your carrier
If the map shows your phone in an unfamiliar location or moving over time, file a police report before you erase it. Police need the phone's location information to investigate. Bring the map screenshot or the exact address where Find My shows your phone.
Contact your phone carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another provider — and report the phone as stolen. Give them your phone number and the phone's serial number, which you can find on your original receipt or in your account settings. The carrier can block the phone from being used on their network, which makes it much less valuable to a thief.
Ask your carrier whether they offer phone replacement insurance. Some plans cover lost or stolen phones for a deductible fee, usually between $25 and $200 depending on your plan and the phone's value.
What to do if Find My iPhone shows no location
If Find My iPhone does not show your phone on the map, it means location services were turned off before the phone went missing, or the phone has no power and no data connection. In this case, you cannot track the phone's location, but you can still lock or erase it remotely if you know your Apple ID password.
Go to iCloud.com, click Find My iPhone, select your phone, and choose Lost Mode or Erase iPhone even though you cannot see the location. If your phone powers back on later, these actions will take effect. This protects your data even if you cannot find the phone itself.
If you do not remember your Apple ID password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com. You will need to verify your identity using a trusted phone number or email address associated with your account.
Prevent this from happening again
Turn on location services now so Find My iPhone will work if your phone goes missing in the future. Go to Settings, tap Privacy, tap Location Services, and turn it on. Then go to Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, and make sure Find My iPhone is turned on.
You can also set up Find My Friends to share your location with trusted family members. If your phone is lost, they can help you search or confirm whether it has moved to an unfamiliar area. This is especially useful if you live with family or have a partner who can help you track down a lost phone quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my phone if location services are turned off?
No. Find My iPhone needs location services on to show your phone's position on a map. If location services were off when your phone went missing, you cannot track it. You can still lock or erase it remotely through iCloud.com if you know your Apple ID password, but you will not see where it is.
What if someone else has my phone and turns it off?
Once your phone is off, Find My iPhone cannot track it. The map will show the last location before it powered down. If the phone powers back on later, the location will update. If you put the phone in Lost Mode before it turned off, the lock will set up as soon as it powers on again.
Does Find My iPhone work if my phone has no cellular service?
Yes, as long as your phone can connect to Wi-Fi. Find My iPhone uses any internet connection — cellular data or Wi-Fi — to send location information to Apple's servers. If your phone is on Wi-Fi but has no cellular service, the map will still work.
Can I track my phone if someone changed my Apple ID password?
No. Once someone changes your Apple ID password, you cannot access Find My iPhone or lock your phone remotely. If this happens, contact Apple Support when ready at support.apple.com or call 1-800-MY-APPLE. Apple can help you regain access to your account and find it against further changes.
Will erasing my phone delete my photos and messages?
Yes. Erasing your phone deletes everything on it permanently — photos, messages, contacts, apps, and all other data. This action cannot be undone. Only erase your phone if you are certain you will not recover it and you want to protect your personal information from someone who has it.