How to find a lost phone
This works if someone is holding the phone and can answer. If nobody can, start with the phone's own account, below.
A number alone cannot locate it. The account already on the phone can. Four things, in order.
01Android: Find Hub
- Where
- android.com/find, any browser, the phone's Google account
- You can
- Ring it, lock it with a message, erase it
- Limits
- The phone must be on and online. Some models report a last position after going offline.
02iPhone: Find My
- Where
- icloud.com/find or the Find My app on another Apple device
- You can
- Mark as Lost: lock it and show a number on the screen
- Limits
- Find My had to be on before it was lost. Recent iPhones can be found while off.
03Samsung: SmartThings Find
- Where
- smartthingsfind.samsung.com, the Samsung account
- You can
- Same as Find Hub, plus offline finding through nearby Galaxy devices
04Carrier, then police
- Carrier
- Suspend the SIM so verification codes stop arriving on it
- Police
- Give them the IMEI from the box or your carrier account. Insurance usually wants the report.
- Then
- Change banking and email passwords from another device
05FAQ
Can I find my lost phone with just the number?
No. A number identifies a line, not a place. The phone's own account, Find Hub or Find My, is what locates it.
Can I locate a lost phone for free?
Yes. Find Hub, Find My and SmartThings Find are free and already on the phone.
Can a lost phone be tracked when it is off?
Recent iPhones and some Android models report a position for a while after switching off. Older phones show their last known position only.
Can the police track my phone?
They can ask the carrier, with a warrant, in serious cases. For an ordinary loss they take the IMEI and the report.
Someone is holding it