How to Track a Lost Phone: Find My iPhone & Find My Device
If you have lost your phone or had it stolen, tracking software built into every modern smartphone can help you locate, lock or erase it remotely. Here is how to use each service.
Apple Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is built into every iPhone running iOS 13 or later and is enabled by default on newer devices.
How to Use It
- Go to icloud.com/find on any browser, or open the Find My app on another Apple device (iPad, Mac or a friend's iPhone).
- Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
- Select your missing device from the list. Its location will appear on a map if the phone is online.
Available Actions
| Action | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Play Sound | Plays a loud sound for two minutes, even if the phone is on silent. Useful if the phone is nearby. |
| Mark as Lost | Remotely locks the phone with a passcode and displays a custom message with your contact number. Apple Pay is disabled automatically. |
| Erase iPhone | Permanently deletes all data on the device. Use this as a last resort — you will no longer be able to track it. |
Requirements
- Find My iPhone must have been enabled in Settings before the phone was lost (it is on by default on iPhone 11 and later).
- The phone must have battery remaining and a network connection (WiFi or mobile data).
- On iPhones running iOS 15 or later, Find My can locate the device even when it is powered off or the battery is dead, using Bluetooth signals from nearby Apple devices.
Google Find My Device (Android)
Google Find My Device works on all Android phones running Android 5.0 or later.
How to Use It
- Go to android.com/find on any browser, or use the Find My Device app on another Android phone.
- Sign in with the Google account linked to the missing phone.
- Select the device. Its location appears on a map if the phone is online.
Available Actions
| Action | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Play Sound | Rings the phone at full volume for five minutes, even if it is on silent. |
| Secure Device | Locks the phone and displays a recovery message and contact number on the lock screen. |
| Erase Device | Factory resets the phone. After erasing you cannot track it further. |
Requirements
- The phone must be signed into a Google account.
- Location services must be turned on.
- The phone must be connected to mobile data or WiFi.
- Find My Device must be enabled in Settings (on by default).
Samsung Find My Mobile
Samsung Galaxy owners have an additional tracking option through Samsung's own service.
- Go to findmymobile.samsung.com and sign in with your Samsung account.
- Features include tracking, locking, wiping and — uniquely — remotely unlocking your phone if you have forgotten your PIN or pattern.
- You can also retrieve the most recent calls and messages.
Business Devices: MDM Tracking
If your company provides mobile phones, they are likely enrolled in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform. MDM gives your IT team the ability to:
- Locate any enrolled device on a map in real time.
- Remotely lock or wipe the device instantly.
- Enforce security policies such as mandatory passcodes and encryption.
- Revoke access to company email and cloud services.
Common MDM platforms include Microsoft Intune, Jamf (for Apple devices) and VMware Workspace ONE. If your work phone is lost, contact your IT department immediately — they can act within minutes.
What If My Phone Is Turned Off?
If the phone is switched off or has no battery, tracking services will show the last known location. On newer iPhones (iOS 15+), the Find My network uses Bluetooth to locate powered-off devices. For Android, the last location is recorded when the phone was last online.
Even if you cannot see a live location, marking the device as lost or locking it means these actions will take effect as soon as the phone connects to the internet.
Need to secure your business mobile fleet? Connection Technologies provides MDM, device security and managed IT services. Get a free quote or call 0333 015 2615.
