The fastest way to find your phone
If your phone is lost or stolen, the fastest way to locate it is through a built-in tracking service that works even when your phone is off or the screen is locked. Both Apple and Google offer these services for free — Find My iPhone for Apple devices and Find My Mobile for Samsung, or Google's Find My Device for Android phones from other makers. These services work because they use your phone's location data, which continues to transmit even when you cannot access the device yourself.
To use these services, you need to have set them up before your phone went missing. If you did not, you can still try calling your phone to see if someone answers, or contact your wireless carrier to report it lost — they can sometimes help locate it or disable service to prevent unauthorized charges.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's Find My iPhone, Google's Find My Device, and Samsung's Find My Mobile all work through a web browser on any computer, even if your phone is powered off.
- These services only work if you turned them on before your phone went missing, so set this up now on any device you own.
- When you locate your phone on a map, you can make it play a sound, lock it remotely, or erase it if you believe it was stolen.
- If you cannot find your phone through these services, contact your wireless carrier to report it lost and ask them to suspend service.
How to find an iPhone using Find My iPhone
Go to iCloud.com from any computer and sign in with the Apple ID you use on your iPhone. Click Find My iPhone (or Find My on newer versions). A map will appear showing the location of all your Apple devices — your iPhone will show as a blue dot. Click on your iPhone in the list on the left side of the screen to see its exact location.
Once you have located your phone on the map, three options appear. You can play a sound to help you find it if it is nearby, lock it remotely if you believe it was stolen, or erase it completely to protect your data. If you choose to erase it, you will not be able to locate it again, so only do this if you are certain you cannot recover it.
How to find an Android phone using Find My Device or Find My Mobile
For most Android phones, go to google.com/android/find from any computer and sign in with the Google account linked to your phone. A map will show your phone's location as a blue dot. You can make it ring at full volume, lock it with a new PIN, or erase it remotely.
If you have a Samsung phone, you can also use Find My Mobile at findmymobile.samsung.com. Sign in with your Samsung account and you will see your phone's location on a map. Samsung's version offers the same options — ring, lock, or erase — plus the ability to back up your data before erasing.
What to do if your phone does not appear on the map
If your phone does not show up when you search for it, it may be turned off, out of battery, or in an area with no cell service. These services rely on your phone being able to connect to the internet or a cellular network, so a completely dead phone will not transmit its location. Wait a few hours and check again — if your phone powers back on or regains service, it will appear on the map.
If your phone still does not appear after several hours, contact your wireless carrier when ready. Tell them your phone is lost or stolen and ask them to suspend service on that line. This prevents someone from using your phone to make calls or send messages, and it stops data charges from accumulating. You will need to provide your account number or the phone number associated with the device.
Setting up location tracking before you need it
To make sure you can find your phone in the future, turn on Find My iPhone, Find My Device, or Find My Mobile now, while you still have access to your phone. On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select Find My, and turn on Find My iPhone. Make sure Location Services is also turned on in Settings under Privacy.
On an Android phone, open Settings, go to Google, then Manage Your Google Account, and select the Security tab. Scroll down to Find My Device and turn it on. On a Samsung phone, go to Settings, select Accounts and Backup, then Samsung Account, and turn on Find My Mobile. These settings take only a minute to enable and can save you hours of frustration later.
What happens if someone else has your phone
If you believe your phone was stolen rather than lost, use the lock or erase options in Find My iPhone, Find My Device, or Find My Mobile to prevent the person from accessing your data. Locking your phone remotely sets a new PIN that only you know, making it unusable without your permission. Erasing it removes all your personal information but also means you cannot track it anymore.
After you have locked or erased your phone, file a police report. Include the phone's serial number (IMEI), which you can find on your original receipt or by calling your wireless carrier. This report helps if the phone shows up at a pawn shop or is used to commit fraud. You should also contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know your phone was stolen, in case someone tries to use stored payment information.
Getting a replacement phone after yours is lost
Once you have reported your phone lost or stolen to your carrier and locked or erased it remotely, contact your wireless provider about a replacement. Most carriers offer insurance plans that cover lost or stolen phones for a deductible fee, usually between $50 and $200 depending on the phone's value and your plan. If you do not have insurance, you can buy a new phone at full price or through a payment plan.
Before you set up a new phone, make sure you have changed the passwords for your email, banking, and social media accounts from a different device. This prevents someone who has your old phone from accessing these accounts even after you have erased it. You should also monitor your credit report for several months to watch for fraudulent accounts opened in your name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my phone if I never turned on Find My iPhone or Find My Device?
No — these services only work if you enabled them before your phone went missing. However, you can still contact your wireless carrier and ask them to help locate it using cell tower data, though this is less precise. Some carriers can also suspend service when ready to prevent unauthorized use.
Will Find My Device work if my phone is turned off?
Yes, as long as your phone has battery power. These services use a small amount of power to keep transmitting location data even when the screen is off. Once the battery is completely dead, the phone will not transmit until it powers back on.
What if I find my phone but it is damaged or will not turn on?
If your phone will not power on, try charging it for at least 30 minutes before assuming it is broken. If it still will not turn on after charging, take it to your carrier's store or an authorized repair shop. They can sometimes recover data or repair the device, and they can help you transfer your service to a replacement phone.
Can someone disable Find My Device if they steal my phone?
On most phones, someone would need to know your password to turn off Find My Device or Find My iPhone. However, if they factory reset your phone, they can erase it completely. This is why locking or erasing your phone remotely as soon as you realize it is stolen is important — it prevents a thief from wiping it and selling it.
Do I need to pay to use Find My iPhone or Find My Device?
No — both services are free and come built into your phone. You do not need to buy any additional software or subscribe to a service. You only need a free iCloud account for Apple devices or a free Google account for Android phones.