How to Find a Lost iPhone

If you're an Apple user, there's a good chance you've been in a situation where you've lost your iPhone. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to find your missing phone and protect your data from being stolen.

Activate Location Services

When you lose an iPhone, Apple automatically (temporarily) turns on its location service to let you track it in real-time via the Find My app or the Maps app on another device. You can also access your iPhone's location history in Google Timeline to see where it went since you last turned on Location Services.

Play a Sound

If your iPhone is in an area with a lot of noise, you can play a sound to help locate it. You can also enable "Lost Mode" which locks the device with a passcode, displays a message on the lock screen and renders it unusable to anyone who might have found it.

UK lone worker Erase Your iPhone

If you think your phone is gone for good, use the Erase option to wipe the device remotely. You can do this with the help of a friend who has access to your iCloud account, or by using the "Help a Friend" feature in the Find My app.

Dispute Charges

If your phone is lost, it's a good idea to contact your carrier and dispute any charges you might have incurred. This will help you reduce the chances of your phone being tracked and can be useful if you have AppleCare Plus or pay for device insurance.