Find a device or an object lost using the app locate

If you still can’t get your hands on your iPhone or any other Apple device, it is possible to activate the lost mode. By scoring your iPhone as lost, it allows:

How to locate a lost or stolen iPhone ?

You have lost your iPhone or it has been stolen ? Do not panic ! There are different methods to locate your Apple devices.

Thomas Coëffé / Published on June 2, 2016 at 12:22 p.m., updated on October 24, 2022 at 9:50 am

Locate an iPhone, iPad or Mac lost or stolen with iCloud

Apple offers a service to find its iPhone, via iCloud. To access it, go to this address: iCloud.Com/Find. You can locate your Apple device, whether it is an iPhone, an iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or your AirPods, on a card. For each localized device, it will be possible:

• To ring your iPhone or iPad thanks to the emission of a sound signal,
• To go into “lost” mode (lock and follow your iPhone, your iPad or your Mac),
• To remove all the personal information from your iPhone remotely your iPad, or your mac,
• To ask to be warned when the device is located,
• Activate the function “warn me in case of forgetting”.

To use the LOCATION FUNCTION MY iPhone via iCloud, you will first need to log in thanks to your Apple identifier, as well as the password used to configure your Apple device and the LOCE application. From then on, a card is displayed and locates all of your devices. Note that since the iOS 15 update, Apple has been able to provide the last known position even if your iPhone is not connected to the Internet, or if it is off.

There is also a native location application, available on iPhone, iPad, Mac or on Apple Watch.

How to ring your iPhone remotely ?

To ring your iPhone or any other Apple device, nothing could be simpler:

1. Go to locate my iPhone, via the web page or the application,
2. In the tab All my devices (on the web version) or Devices (on the application), click on the device concerned,
3. Then press To ring (web version) or Sound (application),
4. The Apple device then emits a sound signal, which allows you to find it easily if it is nearby.

How to activate the lost mode on your iPhone ?

If you still can’t get your hands on your iPhone or any other Apple device, it is possible to activate the lost mode. By scoring your iPhone as lost, it allows:

• Lock your iPhone with an access code to protect your information,
• To deactivate Apple Pay and all recorded bank cards,
• To reveal a personalized message with your phone number, to be contacted when someone finds your device.

Here is the procedure to activate the lost mode on your iPhone:

1. Go to locate my iPhone, via the web page or the application,
2. In the tab All my devices (on the web version) or Devices (on the application), select the device concerned,
3. Then click on Lost fashion (web version) or on Enable in the “Mark as lost” tab (application),
4. If you wish, enter a phone number and a message, then click on To end (web version) or Enable (application).

How to erase the data from his iPhone remotely ?

As a last resort, it is possible to erase all the information of your iPhone to guarantee the security of your data. To carry out this procedure:

1. Go to locate my iPhone, via the web page or the application,
2. In the tab All my devices (on the web version) or Devices (on the application), select the device concerned,
3. Choose Erase [device concerned] (web version) or Delete this device (application),
4. Click on To erase (web version) or Continue Then To erase (application),
5. Find out the password of your Apple account.

If your device is online, remote erasure is automatically launched. If it is offline, the procedure to erase data from your device is scheduled to get started as soon as it is online.

For more information on the functions available with the Locate my iPhone service, go to this dedicated page of Apple support.

Find a lost or stolen iPhone with Google

In addition to offering a service to locate an Android smartphone (Samsung, Sony, Pixel, Huawei…), Google also offers a solution to find its iPhone.

Whether you use an Android smartphone or an iPhone, the procedure for locating your phone is significantly the same. Just go to this link from a computer or phone: search for my phone.

You will need to connect with your Google account to access the list of your phones and tablets. Tip: you can access this page of a simple “Ok Google, find my phone” or “Ok Google, I lost my phone”.

If you use an Android smartphone, you can:

• Lock your phone
• Try to call your Android phone
• Disconnect your Google account on your phone

You can secure your phone by adding a password, write a message to the person who has found or stole your phone, and indicate another phone number to be easily recalled. You can even erase data from your device, if you think you have been stolen from your Android smartphone.

If you have an iPhone, the possibilities are unfortunately fewer: Google helps you locate your iPhone via iCloud (see above), and is content to give you tips to find your iPhone (via hangouts in particular). The only useful feature: you can log out of your Google account in two clicks.

Find a device or an object lost using the app locate

Discover the different ways of using the App Locate to find a lost personal device or object, for example by displaying its position on a card or marking it as lost.

If you have lost or lost an apple or personal object, you just need to use the app locate on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with the latest version of iOS or iPados or a Mac of the latest version of macOS connected with the same Apple identifier. You can also use apps Locate devices or locate objects on your Apple Watch with the latest version of Watchos. For an iPhone, an iPad, an iPod Touch, an Apple Watch, a Mac, Airpods or a lost Beats product (s), you can also use the app Locate on a device belonging to a member of your sharing group family, or go to the Locate page of the iCloud site.com in a web browser.

Features available for your lost object or device

Availability and localization functionality options can vary depending on the country or regions.

iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

• Position display
• Sounding of a sound signal
• Mark as lost (lost fashion)
• Remote erasure
• Warn me when it is located
• Warn me in case of forgetting

Mac computers

• Position display
• Sounding of a sound signal
• Mark as lost (locking of your Mac)
• Remote erasure
• Warn me when it is located
• Warn me in case of forgetting*

* Functionality available only on MacBook with Apple chip.

Apple Watch

• Position display
• Sounding of a sound signal
• Mark as lost (lost fashion)
• Remote erasure
• Warn me when it is located

Airpods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, Airpods Pro (2nd generation), AirPods Max

• Position display
• Locate
• Sounding of a sound signal
• Lost fashion (mark as lost)
• Warn me when it is located
• Warn me in case of forgetting

Airpods (1st generation), AirPods (2nd generation), Beats products

• Position display
• Sounding of a sound signal

Third -party products

• Position display
• Lost fashion
• Other features vary depending on the product.

ATLTAG

• Position display
• Locate
• Sounding of a sound signal
• Lost fashion (mark as lost)
• Warn me when it is located
• Warn me in case of forgetting

Leather Cartes with Magsafe for iPhone

• Position display
• Display the phone number
• Prevent in case of separation

Show the position of your device or object on a card

1. Open the Locate app.
2. Choose the devices or objects tab.
3. Select the device or object to display its position on the card. If you belong to a family sharing group, you can display the position of your group’s devices.
4. Choose itinerary to open your location in plans.

If you activate the location network, you can display the position of your device or your object even if it is not connected to a Wi-Fi or mobile network. The LOCALIZE network is an anonymous and encrypted network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices that can help you locate your device or your object.

You can’t locate your device ?

• You may not activate locate.
• If you use the app locate, you cannot display the position of your device if more than seven days have passed since sending its last position to Apple.
• If you use the iCloud site.com/Find, you cannot see the position of your device if it has turned off, if the battery is discharged or if more than 24 hours have passed since sending its last position to Apple.
• Find out how you can continue to protect your information.

Sound signal

1. Open the Locate app.
2. Choose the devices or objects tab.
3. Select your lost device or object, then choose to send a sound. If your device is offline, it will not ring as long as it will not connect to a network. If the Airtag attached to your object is out of reach of Bluetooth, it will not emit its as long as it is not within reach of the signal.

Your iPhone will also warn you if you leave your Airpods out of reach of Bluetooth when you are not in an important place, for example at home or at work. With some airpods models, your iPhone will only warn you for 24 hours after your last use.

Mark your device as lost or activate the lost mode for your object

1. Open the Locate app and choose the devices or objects tab.
2. Select your lost device or object.
3. Scroll down the screen until you score as lost or lost fashion, then select activate.
4. Follow the steps on the screen if you want your contact information to be displayed on your lost device or object, or if you wish to enter a personalized message asking anyone who finds your device lost to contact you.
5. Select activate.

What’s going on if you activate the Mark as lost for your device option ?

Mark as lost allows you to remotely lock your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac lost with an access code, protecting your information even if you are losing your device. You can also show a personalized message with your phone number on the locked screen and follow the position of your device. Find out how to use scoring as lost.

What happens if you activate the lost mode for your object ?

When you activate the lost mode for a personal object to which an AirTag is attached or for a compatible third-party product, you can share a message containing your phone number or your email address. If a person finds your airtag, they can display your message by placing the upper part of their iPhone or your smartphone compatible with NFC technology on the Airtag to access the Found website.Apple.com. If a person finds your third -party product compatible, he can open the app locate on his iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, choose the object tab, touch Identify the object, then select the object in the list to display your message.

Delete a device

1. Make sure to follow the above steps to collect your lost device. This action cannot be canceled.
2. Open the Locate app and select the Appaisux tab.
3. Select the device you want to erase remotely.
4. Scroll down the screen and choose erase this device.
5. Select Erase this [device].

If your lost device is covered by an Applecare+ contract with coverage in the event of loss or flight, submit a complaint for your lost or stolen device and do not delete the appliance from the app or your Apple account.

What happens if you erase a device ?

When you erase your device, all your information (including credit, debit or prepaid cards for Apple Pay) is deleted from the device.

If you erase data from a device with iOS 15, iPados 15 or subsequent version, you can use the location functionality to locate the device or ring it. After erased it, you will no longer be able to locate your device or make it ring. You may be able to locate your Mac or your Apple Watch if this device is near a Wi-Fi network previously used.