If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen - Apple Support (2024)

If you lost your iPhone or think it might be stolen, Find My can help protect your device, accounts, and personal information.

Mark as Lost on iCloud.com/find to lock your device

To sign in to iCloud.com/find, you don't need to enter a verification code — so you can use Find Devices, even if your trusted device is lost or stolen.

If you're asked to enter a verification code after signing in with your Apple ID and password, instead select the Find Devices button.

When you mark your iPhone or iPad as lost, your device is put in Lost Mode — it's locked with a passcode, payment cards and passes that you use with Apple Pay are suspended, and you can display a phone number and message for someone who finds your device.

  1. Sign in to iCloud.com/find.

  2. Select your iPhone or iPad. If available, the map zooms in on your device's location.

  3. Select Mark As Lost, then follow the onscreen instructions to leave a phone number and message.

  4. Select Activate to lock your iPhone or iPad with its existing passcode. If you don't have a passcode set, you're asked to create one.

Learn more about using Lost Mode on iCloud.com

If Find My wasn't turned on for your device before it was lost or stolen, it won't appear at iCloud.com/find or in the Find My app and you can't mark it as lost or remotely erase it. To protect your personal information, you should sign in to appleid.apple.com and change your Apple ID password right away.

Find your iPhone or iPad

  • When you select your iPhone or iPad, the map zooms in on its location.

  • If your iPhone or iPad was stolen or it appears on the map at a location that you don't recognize (such as an unfamiliar address), don't try to recover the device yourself. Instead, contact local law enforcement.

If you have Stolen Device Protection turned on for your iPhone

  • If your iPhone isn't in a familiar location, you need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to turn off Lost Mode.

  • If you or someone else tried to change your Apple ID password on your iPhone at an unfamiliar location, your iPhone might not appear on the map at iCloud.com/find. You're still able to Mark as Lost to lock your device.

Learn more about Stolen Device Protection for iPhone

Other ways to find your iPhone or iPad

If you have another Apple device — one that’s signed in with your Apple ID or one that belongs to a member of your Family Sharing group — you can use the Find My app to lock your iPhone or iPad and help you find it.

If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen - Apple Support (1)

Use your Apple Watch

Think your iPhone is nearby? If you have an Apple Watch, open Control Center and tap the Ping your iPhone button. You can tap to play a sound on your iPhone or hold the button down to flash the iPhone flashlight, and you can even get directions to your phone's location right on your watch.*

If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen - Apple Support (2)

Use the Find My app on another device

If you have another Apple device that's signed in with your Apple ID, use Find My on that device to lock and find your iPhone or iPad.

Use Find My on another Apple device

If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen - Apple Support (3)

Use a family member's device

If you're part of a Family Sharing group, your devices can appear in Find My on your family members' devices.

Use a family member's iPhone

*To use Precision Finding to get directions to your iPhone with the Ping your iPhone button, you need Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 and iPhone 15 or later. If your Apple Watch is in Low Power Mode, you can't get directions to your iPhone with the Ping your iPhone button.

If your iPhone or iPad is lost permanently or was stolen

If your iPhone or iPad is lost and you're unable to find it, or if your device was stolen, follow these additional steps to protect your accounts and personal information, and replace your device (if applicable).

Report your missing iPhone or iPad

  • Report it to local law enforcement. They might request the serial number of your iPhone or iPad, which you can find even if you don't have the device.

  • Contact your wireless carrier to report your missing iPhone, ask them to disable your account, and file a claim if your iPhone is covered under your wireless carrier plan.

Learn how to find the serial number of your device

Update your account information

  • Change your Apple ID password: Sign in to appleid.apple.com, then choose Sign-in and Security. Select Password and follow the onscreen instructions.

  • Remove your iPhone or iPad from your Apple ID trusted devices: Sign in to appleid.apple.com, then choose Devices from the sidebar. Select your device, scroll down, and select Remove from account.

  • If you filed a claim with AppleCare+ with iPhone Theft and Loss, don't remove the iPhone from your Apple ID (or from Find My) until your claim has been fully approved.

  • If you have Stolen Device Protection turned on for your missing iPhone, you might not be able to update some account information on the web (such as changing your Apple ID password or removing your device from your Apple ID). To make these account changes, you can use another trusted iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Remotely erase your iPhone or iPad

  • Before you erase your device, make sure that you've tried everything else to find it. Erasing your device can't be undone.

  • You can remotely erase your device using the Find My app or at iCloud.com/find.

  • If your device has iOS 15 or later, or iPadOS 15 or later, you can still use Find My or iCloud.com/find to locate it after you erase it.

  • If you have AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, don't remove the device from Find My or your Apple ID, even if you remotely erase it.

Remotely erase your iPhone or iPad

File a claim with AppleCare+ Theft and Loss

If your iPhone is covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, file a claim for an iPhone replacement.

Don't remove your iPhone from Find My or your Apple ID until your claim has been fully approved.

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss is not available in all countries and regions.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsem*nt. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

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If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen - Apple Support? ›

Sign in to iCloud.com/find. Select your iPhone or iPad. If available, the map zooms in on your device's location. Select Mark As Lost, then follow the onscreen instructions to leave a phone number and message.

Can Apple do anything about lost iPhone? ›

Theft and loss coverage is included with AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss for iPhone and provides up to two incidents of theft or loss coverage every 12 months. Each incident is subject to a deductible, and taxes may apply.

Can Apple help find a lost iPad? ›

Use the Find My app or iCloud.com/find to help locate a lost iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac. If you can't find it or think it might be stolen, you can lock it to protect your information.

Can Apple help if I lost my phone? ›

If it's covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you can sign in with your Apple ID and file a claim for an iPhone replacement. Use the Find My app or go to iCloud.com/find to mark your iPhone as lost.

Can someone unlock my iPhone in lost mode? ›

The answer is yes. If you have a simple passcode or Apple password, or someone remembers your passcode through a glance, your iPhone will be unlocked easily, even if it is in Lost Mode. In this case, the Lost Mode is not a 100% secure measure to keep your iOS device from unwanted use by someone.

Can someone use my iPhone if it's stolen? ›

So long as the stolen iPhone is still listed as a device in your Find My iPhone app, it cannot be unlocked and used until your Apple ID and password have been entered or until the iPhone has been removed from your Find My iPhone account.

What to do if iPhone is stolen or lost? ›

If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen
  1. Sign in to iCloud.com/find.
  2. Select your iPhone or iPad. ...
  3. Select Mark As Lost, then follow the onscreen instructions to leave a phone number and message.
  4. Select Activate to lock your iPhone or iPad with its existing passcode.
May 21, 2024

Can someone access my lost iPad? ›

Lost Mode lets you lock your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch so that others can't access your personal information. You can turn on Lost Mode in Find Devices on iCloud.com.

Can an iPad be tracked if it's turned off? ›

The clear answer is No, it is not possible to track a tablet if it is turned off. Tracking a device requires it to have power and be connected to a network, such as Wi-Fi or cellular data. When a device is turned off, it is not connected to any network, so there is no way to track its location.

Can a stolen iPad be tracked after a factory reset? ›

If you erase a device that has iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or later installed, you can use Find Devices to locate or play a sound on the device. Otherwise, you won't be able to locate or play a sound on it. You may still be able to locate your Mac or Apple Watch if it's near a previously used Wi-Fi network.

Does Apple Care support lost phones? ›

Both AppleCare+ options provide repair or replacement hardware service for your iPhone. Depending on the plan you choose, you'll get unlimited incidents of accidental damage protection and up to two incidents of theft or loss coverage every 12 months.

Does Apple have a 24/7 support? ›

Apple online support inlcudes software updates and utilities, technical support and product information and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Should I erase my iPhone if stolen? ›

Stolen or Lost iPhone? Six Things to Do Immediately
  1. Locate your device on a map. ...
  2. Mark as lost. ...
  3. Remotely erase your device. ...
  4. Contact your carrier. ...
  5. Remove the missing device from your account. ...
  6. Change your password.

Can thieves disable Find My iPhone? ›

If he removes (turns off) Find my… the thief will be able to erase the phone and activation lock will be off, thus enabling the thief to activate the phone as a new phone . Authentication codes are sent to your AppleID Trusted Devices … if they can't access your passcode protected device, they can't receive the code.

What happens to iPhone when reported lost? ›

You can create a message for the device that says it's lost and how to contact you. For an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch, your device doesn't display alerts or make noise when you receive messages or notifications, or if any alarms go off. Your device can still receive phone calls and FaceTime calls.

Can someone open my iPhone if I lost it? ›

Can a Stolen iPhone Be Unlocked? Normally, someone cannot unlock your iPhone without a passcode. However, they can factory reset your iPhone and unlock it using the above method or some iPhone unlocking tools. Also, it is possible to unlock a found iPhone with the same methods.

Can Apple erase a lost iPhone? ›

Use the Find My app to erase an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, or Mac. In order to remotely erase a device, you must turn on Find My [device] before it's lost. Note: Finding devices isn't available in all countries or regions.

Does Apple cover a lost iPhone? ›

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss covers You for repair or replacement of Your device in the event of Theft or Loss, Accidental Damage or Battery Depletion and access to Technical Support from Apple (as set out in clause 4.5). The Policy is sold by Apple and Apple Authorised Resellers.

Can Apple recover data from lost iPhone? ›

Sign in with your Apple ID of the lost iPhone to recover data via iCloud backup. Select the latest backup to restore from the backup list. Wait for the data recovery process to finish.

What to do if I lose my Apple iPhone? ›

Locate your stuff with Find My

If you've lost or misplaced an Apple device or personal item with an AirTag attached, use Find My to locate your device or item on a map. You can get directions to its location and, when you're nearby, play a sound or even get help finding its exact location.

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