Losing your iPhone can be stressful, especially if you are not sure whether you left it at home, in the car, or somewhere while you were out. The good news is that Apple’s Find My service can help you find my lost iPhone, play a sound, and protect your information if the phone is missing.
The most useful thing is to act calmly and check the options in order. You can use another Apple device or a web browser to see your iPhone’s location, as long as Find My was set up before the phone went missing.
What you’ll need
- Another phone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
- Your Apple Account sign-in details (the account may still be called your Apple ID in older instructions).
- Access to a trusted device or phone number if Apple asks you to verify your sign-in.
Step 1: Open Find My on another Apple device
If you have an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone signed in to your Apple Account, you can use its Find My app to look for your missing phone.
- Open the Find My app on the other Apple device.
- Tap Devices.
- Select your missing iPhone from the list.
- Wait for the map to show its current or last known location, if available.
The map may show an approximate location rather than the exact spot. If the phone is offline or its battery has run out, Find My may show its last known location instead.
Tip: If you have more than one Apple device, give each one a clear name in Find My. That makes it easier to choose the correct device when you need it.
Step 2: Use Find Devices on iCloud.com if you do not have another Apple device
You can also look for your iPhone from a web browser on a computer or another phone.
- Open a browser and go to iCloud.com/find.
- Sign in with the Apple Account used on your missing iPhone.
- If asked for a verification code and you cannot receive it on the missing phone, look for the option to use Find Devices instead, where available.
- Choose your iPhone from the device list.
- Check the map for its location or last known location.
Apple may offer a Find Devices route that lets you locate a device without completing the usual two-factor sign-in process. The exact sign-in choices can change, so follow the options shown on Apple’s website.
Step 3: Play a sound to help find your iPhone nearby
If the map suggests your iPhone is close by, playing a sound can help you find it under a cushion, in a bag, or in another room.
- In the Find My app, select your iPhone under Devices. On iCloud.com/find, select it in the device list.
- Choose Play Sound.
- Listen for the sound and check nearby places.
- When you find the phone, stop the sound on the iPhone or follow the on-screen option.
Your iPhone can play a sound even if it is set to silent, provided it can receive the command. If it is offline, the sound may play when it next connects.
Good to know: If you think the phone is nearby but cannot hear it, check the map again and look carefully around the displayed location. The location may be approximate, especially indoors.
Step 4: Get directions to the iPhone’s location
If the iPhone appears to be somewhere away from you, Find My can help you navigate to its reported location.
- Select your iPhone in the Find My app.
- Look for Directions.
- Tap it to open the location in Maps.
- Review the route before travelling.
If you are using iCloud.com/find, check the location shown on the map. You may need to open the Maps app separately to get directions.
Careful: A map location is not proof that your phone is in a particular person’s possession. If the location appears to be at an unfamiliar home or another place where you do not feel safe, do not confront anyone. Consider asking local authorities for help.
Step 5: Mark your iPhone as lost
If you cannot find the phone quickly, use Lost Mode to protect it. Lost Mode locks the iPhone and lets you display a message and contact number on its screen.
- Open Find My and select your missing iPhone under Devices.
- Scroll to Mark As Lost or Lost Mode, depending on the screen and software version.
- Tap Activate or follow the instructions shown.
- Enter a phone number where someone can reach you, if prompted.
- Add a short message, such as “This iPhone is lost. Please call me.”
- Confirm to turn on Lost Mode.
If the iPhone is offline, the request may remain pending until the phone connects to the internet. Find My will show the status when it can.
Lost Mode helps protect your information by locking the device with its passcode. Payment cards and other services may be suspended on the device while it is in Lost Mode.
Step 6: If you think your iPhone was stolen
If you believe someone has stolen your iPhone, put your safety first. Do not try to recover it yourself from a location that feels unsafe.
- Turn on Lost Mode using the steps above.
- Contact your mobile carrier and ask it to suspend your service or SIM, if appropriate.
- Report the theft to local police and provide the serial number or other details if requested.
- Review your Apple Account security and change your password if you think someone may know it.
- Watch out for unexpected messages claiming that your iPhone has been found. Do not share your passcode, Apple Account password, or verification codes.
Careful: Apple will not ask you to share your device passcode or account password in a message saying your iPhone has been found. Do not follow suspicious links or remove the iPhone from your Apple Account because a stranger asks you to.
Step 7: Erase your iPhone only if you cannot recover it
If you believe the iPhone is permanently lost or stolen and you are concerned about the information on it, you can erase it remotely.
- Open Find My or go to iCloud.com/find.
- Select your missing iPhone.
- Choose Erase This Device or Erase iPhone, depending on the screen.
- Read the warning carefully and confirm only if you are sure.
Erasing deletes your personal information and settings from the device. If the iPhone is offline, the erase request will wait until it comes online.
Important: Do not remove the iPhone from Find My or your Apple Account after erasing it. Keeping it linked to your account helps maintain Activation Lock, which makes it harder for someone else to set up and use the device.
Troubleshooting: If Find My cannot locate your iPhone
My iPhone does not appear in the list. Find My may not have been enabled on the missing iPhone before it was lost, or it may be signed in to a different Apple Account. If it is not listed, check the other Apple Accounts you use.
The map says the iPhone is offline. The phone may be switched off, out of battery, or unable to connect. Check the last known location and keep checking Find My. If the device comes online, its location or a pending action may update.
I never turned on Find My. You generally cannot turn it on remotely after the iPhone is missing. Contact your carrier if you need to suspend service, and secure your Apple Account and other important accounts.
I cannot sign in to iCloud. Use Apple’s account recovery options at iforgot.apple.com. Avoid entering your details on links sent by unexpected texts or emails.
Be prepared before you need Find My
Find My works best when it is enabled before your iPhone goes missing. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Find My > Find My iPhone and make sure Find My iPhone is turned on. You can also review Find My network and Send Last Location, if available.
A few minutes spent checking these settings now can make a lost phone much easier to locate later. For Apple’s current instructions, visit Find your lost Apple device.
