Losing your smartphone or having it stolen is extremely stressful these days. This small device holds photos, work documents, passwords, bank accounts and much more. Fortunately, there are several ways to find a stolen phone, provided you prepare in advance. Here’s what to do, whether you’re on Android or iOS.
For Android users
Before anything happens, install the Find My Device app from the Play Store. Sign in with your Google account and enable the necessary permissions: location, data wipe, lock.
If your phone goes missing, sign in to Google > Find My Device. Select your phone. You can then:
- Locate it in real time
- Make it ring so you can find it nearby
- Lock it remotely
- Erase all your data if necessary
For iPhone users
Apple natively includes the Find My iPhone feature. In Settings > iCloud, switch this option on as well as “Send Last Location”.
If your phone disappears, go to icloud.com/find. You’ll be able to locate it on a map, play a sound, activate Lost Mode or erase the data remotely.
More advanced tracking apps
Tools like Cerberus give you even more control: taking photos remotely, recording audio, taking screenshots, viewing call logs and more.
The Lookout app takes photos if the password is entered incorrectly several times and can trigger an alarm.
Be aware: these services only work if the phone is switched on and connected to a network. If it’s turned off or has no SIM, location will not work.
Privacy: a personal choice
Keeping location services on all the time gives Google or Apple access to your whereabouts. This can be a concern for some privacy-conscious users. It’s up to you to decide between confidentiality and security. But one thing is certain: you need to enable these services before anything goes missing.
