If you can’t find your phone right now, take a breath. Here’s the short answer: how to find my lost phone depends on what you have. On an iPhone, use Find My from another Apple device or at iCloud.com. On Android, use Find Hub from another phone or in a web browser. Both can show where your phone is, make it ring, lock it, and erase it. They only work if the feature was turned on before you lost it, so I’ll cover that, too.
How to find my lost phone: the quick steps
- Call your number from another phone. It may be in the next room.
- Use Find My (iPhone) or Find Hub (Android) to see its last known location.
- Play a sound if you’re nearby.
- If it’s far away, mark it as lost so it locks.
- If you think it was stolen or you can’t get it back, contact your carrier and consider erasing it.
How to find a lost iPhone
Apple’s support page on using Find My to locate a lost Apple device explains the steps. Here’s the plan:
- On another Apple device, open the Find My app and tap Devices.
- Tap your lost iPhone to see it on a map.
- Tap the More button, then Directions to open its location in Maps.
- If you’re close, tap Play Sound.
- To lock it, scroll to the lost section, tap Lost Mode, and follow the steps to add a message and a contact number.
Apple says Lost Mode locks your device with a passcode or Apple Account password and, on devices that support Apple Pay, suspends payment cards and passes. If you don’t have another Apple device, you can sign in at icloud.com/find or use a family member’s device.
If it says “No location found” or “Offline”
Apple says that if the battery has run out, you can still see the last known location for up to seven days. After seven days without sending its location through the Find My network, Find My can’t display a location and shows “No location found.”
How to find a lost Android phone
Google’s support page on how to find, secure, or erase a lost Android device covers Find Hub. Here’s the plan:
- On another Android phone or tablet, open the Find Hub app. If you don’t have one, go to Find Hub in a web browser.
- Sign in with the Google Account you use on the lost phone. If you’re helping a friend, use Sign in as guest.
- Select your lost phone from the list.
- Check the map. To go to it, tap Get directions. Within about 10 meters, tap Find nearby.
- Choose Play sound to ring it at full volume for five minutes, even if it’s on silent. To lock it, tap Mark as lost.
To secure or erase an Android phone, Google says it needs power, a connection to mobile data or Wi-Fi, a Google Account, Find Hub turned on, and visibility on Google Play.
Get ready before you lose it
This is the part that saves you the most stress. Do these two checks now:
| Phone | What to check |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Open Settings, tap your name, tap Find My, then Find My iPhone. Turn it on. To see your phone when it’s offline, turn on Find My network. To send its last location when the battery is low, turn on Send Last Location |
| Android | Sign in to a Google Account, turn on Location, then open Settings, Security, Find Hub and make sure Allow device to be located is on. Set a PIN, pattern, or password so the Find Hub network can help find it offline |
Google says some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up, so update if you can. Menu names can change slightly by phone brand.
What to do if you think it was stolen
- Mark the phone as lost or lock it with a message
- Change your Apple Account or Google Account password
- Call your carrier to suspend service so no one runs up charges
- Change passwords for email, banking, and social apps
- Don’t go to the location alone. Call the police and share the map location with them
If you get a text saying your phone was “found” with a link asking you to sign in, don’t tap it. It could be a phishing attempt. Check Find My or Find Hub directly instead. For more help with scams, browse our security and privacy guides and our iPhone guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my phone if it’s turned off?
Sometimes. Apple shows the last known location for up to seven days if the battery died. Google says Find Hub can use stored, encrypted recent locations and its network, if you set a PIN, pattern, or password.
Do I need to pay for Find My or Find Hub?
No. They’re built into your phone.
Can someone else turn off Find My on my phone?
Only if they know your passcode or account password. Use a strong passcode and don’t share it.
Will my phone’s location be shared with the person who finds it?
No. The map is shown to you, the owner. You can add a message and phone number on the lock screen of a lost phone.
Bottom line
- On iPhone: use Find My, then Lost Mode if it’s far away.
- On Android: use Find Hub, then Mark as lost.
- Before you lose it: turn on the feature and set a lock screen passcode today.
Take two minutes now to check your settings. Names and steps change with updates, so if a menu looks different, check Apple’s or Google’s support page.
