Lost Phone? Every Way to Find It on Android and iPhone

When a phone disappears, the best response is a short sequence rather than panic: first make it ring, then locate it, then protect your data. Most lost phones turn out to be under a cushion or in the pocket of yesterday's jacket, so the quick, simple steps come first. This guide follows that order for Android and iPhone, and it also covers what to do if you think the phone was stolen.

Step 0: Stay calm and retrace your steps

Think about where you last used the phone: a payment, a photo, a message. Check the car, bags, coat pockets, the bathroom and the place you charge it. Ask the people you were with to call it. Thirty seconds of thinking saves hours of searching.

Step 1: Make it ring

If you only misplaced it, ringing is the quickest method. Use another phone, or place a call from a browser with Globfone's online calling tool. We describe the process in more detail in making your phone ring from a computer. Try several times: silent mode often still vibrates, and a phone in a bag may need a few attempts before you hear it. If your phone has Do Not Disturb with calls from unknown numbers blocked, call from a number that is in your favourites, or use the location tools below instead.

Step 2: Locate it

Android: Google Find Hub

Google's Find Hub (previously called Find My Device) can show your phone's last known location on a map, play a sound at full volume even if the phone is on silent, and let you secure or erase it. Open the Find Hub website or app, sign in with the Google account used on the phone and choose the device. It works only if the phone is on, signed in and has location and internet access. A recent feature lets compatible phones be located through other nearby Android devices even when they are offline.

Samsung phones

Samsung Galaxy owners can also use Samsung's own find service (SmartThings Find), which adds ring, lock and tracking features for Galaxy phones, tablets and accessories. Sign in with your Samsung account.

iPhone: Find My

Apple's Find My works the same way. Sign in at iCloud.com/find or use the Find My app on another Apple device, pick your iPhone and choose Play Sound, Lost Mode or Erase. Lost Mode locks the phone, shows a message and your contact number on the screen and tracks its location. Find My can often show the last position of a phone that has just run out of battery, and with the Find My network nearby Apple devices can report an offline phone's location anonymously.

Step 3: Protect your data

• If you suspect theft, lock the phone remotely and display a contact message.
• Contact your mobile carrier to suspend the SIM and ask about blocking the device's IMEI so that the phone cannot be used on mobile networks.
• Change the password of your main email, Apple or Google account and any banking apps.
• Sign out of your accounts remotely where the service allows it, for example from the Google or Apple account security page.
• Report the theft to the police and keep the IMEI number from the box or your account.
• Erase the phone only when recovery looks unlikely, because erasing also removes the ability to track it.

What not to do

• Do not go alone to confront the person who may have your phone. Give the location to the police.
• Do not click on links in text messages that say they found your phone. They are often phishing attempts that try to steal your account password.
• Do not share your account password or verification codes with anyone who offers to "help" you track the phone.

Third-party tracking apps

Apps that add anti-theft features, for example family location sharing or alarms that sound when a SIM is changed, can help if they were installed before the loss. They cannot be installed on a phone you no longer hold, so treat them as prevention. Choose well-known apps and read their privacy policy, because they collect location data.

A quick prevention checklist

• Turn on Find Hub or Find My and location access.
• Use a screen lock and a strong account password.
• Write down your IMEI (dial *#06#) and the phone's serial number.
• Back up photos and contacts regularly.
• Show a contact number or email on the lock screen so an honest finder can reach you.

Can I really call my own phone without another phone?

Yes. A calling service that works in the browser lets you dial your own number from a laptop. Globfone's free calling needs a verified account (see the credibility guide) and a small amount of free Credits, which is plenty for a few short attempts. That is why it is worth setting up verification now, before the next time you lose a phone. For everyday misplacing, simple ringing works fine: keep the calling tool bookmarked and you will not need a second handset.

If the phone is switched off or offline

A phone that is off cannot ring or report its position, but its last known location is often still available in Find Hub or Find My. Check the time stamp next to the position: a location from a few minutes ago is useful, one from three days ago only tells you where the phone was when the battery died. Enable the option to be notified when the phone comes back online and to display a message on its screen, so that an honest finder can contact you.

Family sharing and shared accounts

If you share a Google or Apple family group, a family member can often locate your phone from their own device if you agreed to share locations. It is worth setting this up before you need it: choose one trusted person and test it once.

Questions people ask

Can the police find a phone by its number?

Police can ask your carrier for help in serious cases, but the quickest route is to report the loss with the IMEI and the location from the tracking service.

Should I erase the phone right away?

Not if you still hope to find it nearby. Lock it first. Erase it when you are certain that it is gone and you have changed your account passwords.