Your phone has tracking built in — use it before anything else
Both Apple and Google phones have free tracking services already active on most devices. Apple's Find My works on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Google's Find My Mobile works on Android phones. These services let you see your phone's location on a map, make it ring at full volume, lock it remotely, or erase it. The catch: the phone must be powered on and connected to the internet, and you need to have set up the service before it was stolen.
If you set up Find My or Find My Mobile before the theft, you can start searching right now from any web browser or another device. If you did not set it up beforehand, you have other options — but they are slower and less reliable. Either way, report the theft to your phone carrier and local police before you start searching, because you will need a police report number if you want to file an insurance claim or get a replacement SIM card.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Mobile show your phone's location on a map if it is powered on and connected to the internet, and you set up the service before the theft.
- If you did not set up tracking beforehand, contact your carrier immediately to disable the phone's ability to make calls or use data, which stops a thief from running up charges.
- A police report is required to file an insurance claim or get a replacement SIM card, so file one even if you recover the phone.
- If your phone is off or the thief removed the SIM card, location tracking will not work until the phone is powered back on and reconnected to a network.
- Erasing your phone remotely protects your data but makes it impossible to track the device afterward.
Finding an iPhone using Find My
Go to iCloud.com on any computer or use the Find My app on another Apple device. Sign in with your Apple ID — the same one you use on the stolen iPhone. Click Find My iPhone (or just Find My on newer versions). Your phone will appear on a map if it is powered on and has an internet connection.
The map shows your phone's current location and its location history for the past 24 hours. If the phone is nearby, you can play a sound to help you locate it. If it is far away or you do not recognize the location, you have two other options: put the phone in Lost Mode, which locks it with a passcode and displays a message on the screen, or erase it remotely to protect your data. Once you erase it, you cannot track it anymore, so only do this if you are certain you will not recover it.
If the phone is offline, Find My will show you its last known location. Some newer iPhones can send their location even when powered off, using a feature called Find My network, but this only works if the phone was set up with this feature before it was stolen.
Finding an Android phone using Find My Mobile
Go to google.com/android/find on any computer or use the Find My Mobile app on another Android device. Sign in with the Google account linked to the stolen phone. Your phone will appear on a map if it is powered on and connected to the internet.
The map shows your phone's current location. You can make it ring at full volume even if it is on silent, lock it with a new PIN, or erase it remotely. Like Find My on iPhones, once you erase the phone you cannot track it anymore. If the phone is offline, Google will show you its last known location, but it will not update until the phone is powered back on and reconnects to a network.
Some Android phones have a second tracking option called Samsung Find Mobile if you own a Samsung device. The steps are similar: go to findmobile.samsung.com, sign in with your Samsung account, and locate your phone on a map. Samsung's version also lets you unlock your phone remotely if you forgot your PIN, which can be useful if you recover the device yourself.
What to do if you did not set up tracking beforehand
If you never turned on Find My or Find My Mobile before the theft, you cannot use those services to locate your phone. However, you should still contact your phone carrier immediately — call the number on your bill or visit a store — and ask them to suspend the phone's service. This stops a thief from making calls, sending texts, or using data on your account, which can prevent large charges from appearing on your bill.
Ask your carrier whether they can see the phone's location based on which cell towers it is connecting to. Some carriers can provide this information to police, though the accuracy is usually within a few city blocks rather than a precise address. You will need to give the carrier your phone's IMEI number, which you can find on your original receipt or by calling Apple or Google with your proof of purchase.
File a police report and give the officer your phone's IMEI number and serial number. Police can contact your carrier with a warrant to request more detailed location data, and they can also check pawn shops and resale sites for your phone. A police report is also required if you want to file an insurance claim or get a replacement SIM card from your carrier.
Disabling your phone remotely to protect your data
Before you erase your phone, back up any recent photos, messages, or files if you have time. Once you erase it remotely, all data on the phone is deleted and cannot be recovered. However, erasing it is the safest option if you believe the thief has access to your passwords or personal information.
On an iPhone, use Find My to put the phone in Lost Mode first. This locks it and displays a message, giving you a chance to recover it before erasing. If the thief ignores the message and keeps the phone, you can erase it from Find My at any time. On Android, you can erase directly from Find My Mobile without a waiting period.
After you erase the phone, contact your bank and credit card companies to report the theft and watch for unauthorized charges. Change your passwords for email, banking, and any other sensitive accounts, especially if the thief might have access to your phone's stored passwords. If you use your phone for two-factor authentication on important accounts, update those accounts to use a different phone number or authentication method.
Using your carrier's tools if the phone is offline
If your phone is powered off or the thief removed the SIM card, location tracking through Find My or Find My Mobile will not work. However, your carrier may be able to help. Call your carrier and ask whether they can track the phone's location based on its IMEI number, which is a unique identifier separate from the SIM card. Some carriers keep records of which cell towers a phone connected to before it went offline.
Your carrier can also flag the phone's IMEI number so it cannot be activated on any network, even if the thief puts in a different SIM card. This makes the phone much less valuable to a thief and reduces the chance they will power it on. Ask your carrier to do this as soon as you report the theft.
If the phone is a recent model, check whether it has an offline finding feature. Newer iPhones and some Android phones can share their location with Apple or Google even when they are not connected to the internet, using a network of other devices. This only works if the feature was enabled before the theft, but if it was, your phone may still be trackable even if it is powered off.
What to expect from police and insurance
When you file a police report, provide the officer with your phone's IMEI number, serial number, and the last location where you saw it. The police report creates an official record that you can use to file an insurance claim with your phone's manufacturer or your renters or homeowners insurance. Some phone insurance plans cover theft, but others do not, so check your policy before you file.
Police will not usually prioritize a stolen phone unless it was part of a larger crime. However, they can contact your carrier with a warrant to request location data, and they can check local pawn shops and online resale sites for your phone. If you recover the phone yourself, contact the police department to update your report so they can close the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track my phone if the thief turned it off?
Not immediately. Tracking services only work when the phone is powered on and connected to the internet. However, newer iPhones and some Android phones can send their location even when off, if this feature was enabled before the theft. Once the phone is powered back on, you can track it again if you set up Find My or Find My Mobile beforehand.
What if I see my phone's location on the map — should I go get it?
No. Do not approach the location alone. Contact police and give them the address and coordinates from the map. Let them handle the recovery. The person at that location may not be the thief — the phone could have been sold, traded, or left behind — and confronting them could be dangerous.
Will my phone still work after I erase it remotely?
The phone will still power on and work as a device, but all your personal data will be deleted. The thief will see a setup screen asking for an Apple ID or Google account password. If they do not have your password, they cannot use the phone. This is why erasing it protects your data but also makes it impossible to track.
Can my carrier track my phone without a police report?
Your carrier can suspend the phone's service immediately without a police report. However, they usually need a police report or a warrant to share detailed location data with you. They can share it with police directly if you file a report and give the officer your carrier's name and account number.
What is an IMEI number and where do I find it?
An IMEI is a 15-digit code that uniquely identifies your phone, separate from the SIM card. You can find it on your original receipt, in your carrier's account, or by calling Apple or Google with your proof of purchase. Your carrier and police will need this number to track the phone or prevent it from being activated on another network.