Losing your smartphone can be more than just a nuisance. These devices store sensitive data and important information, and losing your smartphone can involve more than just economic damage. Fortunately, many smartphones now have systems and functions that can help you at least try to trace your device in case of loss using geolocation. In this guide, we will show you how to locate your phone, both iOS and Android.

Index

• How to Locate an iPhone
• How to Activate Find My on iPhone
• What to Do If Your iPhone Is Lost or Stolen
• How to Find the Serial Number on an iPhone
• How to Locate an Android Smartphone
• How to Download the Find My Phone App on Android
• How to Download the "Find My Device" App for Android

How to Locate an iPhone

If you lose your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can proceed in two different ways to find it and protect your data. The first is to take advantage of iCloud. By accessing the site https://www.icloud.com/find, you can enter your Apple ID and password to locate your iPhone on a map. If the phone is on and working, the map will show a green dot indicating where it is, allowing you to go looking for it or to provide the authorities with the available information if you think it was stolen.

The other way to locate your iPhone is to directly use the Find My app on another Apple-owned device signed in with the same Apple ID. In both cases, it is necessary that "Find My" has been activated.

How to Activate Find My on iPhone

To activate Find My on iPhone, you need to:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Access "Privacy" and check that the location is activated (if not, activate it)
3. Tap your name, then tap "Find My"
4. Tap "Find My iPhone"
5. Turn on "Find My iPhone"

To see the device even when it is offline, you must also activate the "Network Find My" option. To send the location of the device to Apple even when the battery is low, the option "Send Last Location" must be activated. If the word "Active" appears next to the item, it means that "Find My" is working correctly, and that when searching for the iPhone, it will be shown on the map.

What to Do If Your iPhone Is Lost or Stolen

If your iPhone (or iPad or iPod Touch) doesn't appear in your device list because Find My isn't turned on, you can at least protect your account even if Find My isn't turned on. If your iPhone has been lost and can't be found on the map, or worse, if it's stolen, you can first mark it as lost. This remotely locks the device with a passcode, keeping your information safe while also disabling Apple Pay. You can also show a personalized message with contact information about the lost device in the hope that it can be returned.

To activate Lost Mode, you need to:

1. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, open the Find My app
2. Go to the Devices panel and choose the lost device
3. Scroll down to "Mark as Lost" and select "Enable"
4. Follow the steps on the screen if you want your contact information to be shown

Finding the serial number is equally important, as it gives law enforcement a useful tracker tool.

How to Find the Serial Number on an iPhone

There are several ways to find your device's serial number or IMEI/MEID number that you don't have:

1. Open the appleid.apple.com page in a web browser
2. Sign in with the Apple ID you use on your device
3. Select the "Devices" section
4. Select the device to view its serial number and IMEI/MEID number

Alternatively, you can use another device with iOS 10.3 or later on which you have previously signed in with your Apple ID. On that device, you can open the Find My app, select the device you are looking for, and tap on the "i" icon to view the device's serial number.

How to Locate an Android Smartphone

If you have an Android smartphone, there are several ways to locate it if it is lost or stolen. One of the most popular ways is to use the "Find My Device" app, which is pre-installed on most Android devices.

How to Download the Find My Phone App on Android

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device
2. Search for "Find My Device"
3. Download and install the app
4. Sign in with your Google account

How to Download the "Find My Device" App for Android

1. Go to the Google Play Store on another device or computer
2. Search for "Find My Device"
3. Download and install the app
4. Sign in with the same Google account you used on your lost device

Once you have the "Find My Device" app installed, you can use it to locate your device on a map, make it ring, or lock it remotely. You can also erase all data on your device if it is lost or stolen and cannot be recovered.

In conclusion, there are several ways to locate your phone, whether it's an iOS or Android device. By activating the "Find My" or "Find My Device" feature, you can easily locate your device on a map and take necessary actions to protect your data if it is lost or stolen. It's important to remember to keep your device updated and to have a passcode or fingerprint lock to help secure your device even if it falls into the wrong hands.