To find my lost phone, go to google.com/android/find for an Android phone, samsungfind.samsung.com for a Samsung Galaxy, or icloud.com/find for an iPhone, and sign in with that phone’s account. You’ll see it on a map and can make it ring, even on silent.
If you can’t get it back quickly, lock it (Mark as lost or Lost Mode) so your data is protected. If it was stolen, also report it to the police and your carrier. Erase it only as a last resort.
That sinking feeling when your pocket is empty is the worst. Android phones, Samsung Galaxy phones and iPhones all have free, built-in tools to locate them, and they’re usually already turned on. Here’s exactly what to do, in order, and how to make sure it works next time. More phone help lives on our Android hub.
First, the quick checks
- Call it from someone else’s phone. It might be under a cushion or in the car.
- Ask a smart speaker or watch to ring it, if you have one linked to your account.
- Retrace your steps and call the last place you were, such as a restaurant, store or rideshare.
- Use a computer or a family member’s phone for the steps below. You only need your account sign-in.
How to find my lost phone on Android with Google Find Hub
Google’s tool used to be called Find My Device. It’s now Find Hub. Google says it’s turned on automatically when you add a Google Account to an Android phone. The phone needs to be on, signed in, and connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi to show its live location.
- On a computer or another phone, go to google.com/android/find (or open the Find Hub app on another Android device).
- Sign in with the Google Account that’s on the lost phone.
- Pick your phone from the list. The map shows where it is, based on GPS, Wi-Fi and cell towers.
- Select Play sound. Google says the phone rings at full volume for 5 minutes, even if it’s on silent or vibrate.
- If you’re close but can’t see it, use Find nearby from the Find Hub app to get closer.
Can’t get it back right away? Select Mark as lost. This locks the phone with your PIN, pattern or password so no one can get into it.
Find a lost Samsung Galaxy with Samsung Find
Galaxy phones can use Google Find Hub above. Samsung also offers its own service, which works with your Samsung account and has a few extra options.
- On a computer, go to samsungfind.samsung.com (or smartthingsfind.samsung.com) and sign in with your Samsung account.
- Select your phone from the list on the left to see it on the map.
- Select Ring. Samsung says it sounds for one minute, even if the phone is on mute or vibrate.
- Select Lock to lock the phone with a PIN you create and show an emergency contact number on the screen.
- Select Track location to get updates every 15 minutes, and Extend battery life to switch on maximum power saving so it stays findable longer.
If the phone is switched off, Samsung says you’ll only see its last known location. That’s why the Send last location setting below is worth turning on.
Find a lost iPhone with Apple Find My
- Open the Find My app on another Apple device signed in to your Apple Account, or go to icloud.com/find on any computer or phone.
- Sign in and choose your iPhone from your devices.
- Play a sound if it’s nearby, or get directions to it on the map.
- If you can’t recover it, choose Mark As Lost (Lost Mode). Apple says this locks the iPhone with your passcode, suspends Apple Pay, and lets you show a phone number and message on the screen.
Apple notes that you can sign in to Find Devices at icloud.com/find without a verification code, which helps when the lost iPhone is your trusted device. If Find My wasn’t turned on before the phone went missing, Apple says it won’t appear there.
If your phone was stolen
Don’t try to get it back yourself. If the map shows it at a stranger’s address, give that information to the police. Then work through this list.
- Lock it now. Use Mark as lost in Find Hub, Lock in Samsung Find, or Lost Mode on iPhone. On Android 10 or later, Google’s Remote Lock at android.com/lock lets you lock the screen with just your phone number, if you set it up beforehand.
- Keep it on your account. Apple warns that removing an iPhone from Find My removes Activation Lock, which makes it easier for a thief to erase and resell.
- Report it to the police. They may ask for the serial number or IMEI, which you’ll often find on the original box or your carrier bill.
- Call your carrier. Ask them to suspend your line and, if your plan includes insurance, start a claim.
- Change your passwords. Start with your Google, Samsung or Apple account, then email and banking apps. Our guide to setting up passkeys helps lock things down.
- Erase it as a last resort. Use Factory reset (Find Hub), Erase data (Samsung) or Erase (iPhone) once you’re sure it’s gone. After erasing, you may no longer be able to locate it.
- File an insurance claim if you have one, such as AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss or your carrier’s protection plan.
Watch for scam texts after a theft. Apple says it will never contact you to say your iPhone has been found. Messages like that are usually phishing for your password so the thief can unlock the phone. Learn the signs in how to stop spam texts, and if accounts start acting strangely, see is my phone hacked?
Set it up now so you can find it later
Five minutes today makes a lost phone far easier to recover. Menu names can differ slightly by model and Android version.
- Android: open Settings → Security → Find Hub (on some phones, Settings → Google → Find Hub) and make sure Allow device to be located is on. Keep Location turned on.
- Offline finding: in the same Find Hub settings, choose a network option such as With network in busy places only so your phone can be found even without a connection. Google says this needs a PIN, pattern or password.
- Samsung: open Settings → Security and privacy → Lost device protection and turn on Allow this phone to be found, Send last location and Offline finding.
- Theft protection (Android 10+): open Settings → Google → All services → Theft protection and turn on Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock.
- iPhone: make sure Find My is on for your iPhone, and turn on Stolen Device Protection.
- Write down your phone’s IMEI or serial number and keep it somewhere safe, away from the phone.
Related guide: Buying a Used Phone? Check These Things Before You Pay.
FAQ
Can I find my phone if it’s turned off?
Sometimes. Google’s offline finding and Samsung’s Offline finding can help locate a phone without a connection if they were turned on beforehand. Otherwise you’ll usually see only the last known location.
Can I find a lost Android phone from an iPhone?
Yes. Open a web browser on the iPhone, go to google.com/android/find, and sign in with the Google Account on the lost phone.
Will Play sound work if my phone is on silent?
Yes. Google says Play sound rings at full volume for 5 minutes even on silent or vibrate, and Samsung’s Ring works on mute too.
Should I erase my phone right away?
No. Lock it first. Erasing protects your data, but afterward you may not be able to track the phone. Erase only when you’re sure it isn’t coming back.
Can the police track my phone for me?
Report it with the serial number or IMEI and the location from your finder app. What police can do varies by area, so share what you have and let them advise you.
Sources
- Find, secure, or erase a lost Android device (Android Help)
- Be ready to find a lost Android device (Android Help)
- Protect your personal data against theft (Android Help)
- How to locate your lost Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet (Samsung US)
- How to find your lost iPhone or iPad (Apple Support)
- If your iPhone or iPad was stolen (Apple Support)
