Find Your Stolen Phone: Lock or Erase a Lost Device

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Easy steps to locate a lost Android or iPhone
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Having your phone stolen is a frustrating and difficult experience. Fortunately, all smartphones have device-finding features that make it easy to find your stolen phone. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to find a stolen phone using Find Hub (Android), SmartThings Find (Samsung), and Find My (iPhone). We'll also provide tips on reporting the theft and getting your phone back .

How to Find a Stolen Phone

Section 1 of 5:

Using Find Hub (Android)

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  1. If you enabled Find Hub before your Android phone was stolen, you can locate and secure your device remotely. It’s important to set up this feature while you still have your phone, since there’s no way to enable it if your phone has already been stolen. To enable Find Hub: [1]
    • Open your Android's Settings .
    • Tap Google .
    • Tap All services .
    • Tap Personal & device safety .
    • Tap Find Hub .
    • Enable "Allow device to be located."
    • You must keep location services enabled and stay signed in to your Google account to be able to find your stolen phone with Find Hub.
  2. If your Android is currently lost or stolen, you can sign in to Find Hub at www.google.com/android/find/ . Alternatively, you can use the Find Hub app on a different Android–if the app isn't installed, you can install it from the Play Store. [2]
    • If you're opening Find Hub on a different Android you own and you're signed in with the same Google account as you were using on your stolen phone, tap Continue as (your name) to sign in.
    • If you're using a friend or family member's device, select Sign in as guest , and log in with the Google account you're using on the stolen phone.
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  3. As long as there is a device connected to Find Hub, you will see it in the device list. Clicking the device sends it a notification. [3]
  4. For all modern Androids, you'll be asked to enter the PIN you use to unlock your Android's screen. If so, enter it. Don't worry, this won't actually unlock the screen remotely–it's just for verification.
  5. This map displays your phone's location based on GPS, Wi-Fi, and nearby cell towers.
    • If your Android is turned off or your live location can’t be found for another reason, the map will show you the last known location (if it’s available).
  6. You can choose from the following. [4] You may need to click Enable lock & erase first.
    • If you're within 10 meters of the stolen phone, tap Find nearby . This will display a shape that fills in as you approach the device.
    • Play sound makes the phone ring for 5 minutes at full volume. This will happen even if your phone was on silent or vibrate.
    • Mark as lost will lock your phone with the set PIN/pattern/password. If it doesn’t have a lock code, you can create one now.
      • You will also have the option to display a message or phone number on the screen (to help in getting your phone returned). We'll cover reclaiming your missing phone later.
    • Factory reset (device name) will permanently delete the data on your Android.
      • This might not delete data on SD cards.
      • After erasing, Find Hub will no longer function.
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Section 2 of 5:

Using SmartThings Find (Samsung Galaxy)

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  1. This is Samsung’s service for finding missing Galaxy smartphones. As long as you activate this before your phone is lost or stolen, it'll be easy to find it. You must be logged in to a Samsung account. To activate it: [5]
    • Open your Android's Settings.
    • Tap your name at the top of the menu.
    • Tap Find My Mobile .
    • Toggle on "Allow this device to be found."
    • Toggle on the features, including Remote Unlock, Send Last Location, and Offline Finding.
  2. If your Samsung phone is stolen, you can track it down using any other device by visiting smartthingsfind.samsung.com . When prompted, log in to your Samsung account (not your Google account).
  3. It will appear in the list on the left. As long as SmartThings Find was activated on your Samsung phone, you should see some information about your phone, including its last known location, current connectivity, and battery status. [6]
    • You will only see the live location if the phone is turned on and connected to a cellular network. If it's not on or connected to the internet, you will only see the last known location.
  4. There will be actions you can take for the selected device in the right panel menu: [7]
    • Ring will make your device ring, even if it’s on mute.
    • Lock will remotely lock your Samsung device. It will also suspend the card in your Samsung Pay. If the lock is unsuccessful, you’ll see a red exclamation point.
    • Track location > Start will send you a location update.
    • Erase data will completely reset your device. All data will be lost.
    • Backup will back up your data.
    • Extend battery life > Extend will increase the battery life of your lost device by turning on max power saving mode.
    • Retrieve calls/messages will allow you to view up to 50 recent calls and messages.
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Section 3 of 5:

Using Find My iPhone

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  1. Phone repair specialist Bryzz Tortello recommends enabling Find My on your iPhone so you can easily track down your phone if you lose it. [8] To turn on Find My:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap your name at the top.
    • Tap Find My .
    • Tap Find My iPhone .
    • Toggle on "Find My iPhone."
    • Toggle on "Find My network" to ensure you can find your lost or stolen phone if it's not connected to the internet. [9]
  2. To find your stolen phone, you can access Find My on any device, such as your computer or a friend's phone. One option is to go to the Find My website and log in with your Apple account, or you can open the Find My app on a family member's Apple device if you're sharing your location with that person. [10]
    • If you're using the Find My app on an Apple device that belongs to you, you should already be logged in.
    • If you aren't able to confirm your login by receiving a 2FA code, select Find Devices to bypass code entry.
  3. This displays a list of devices you can locate with Find My. If your stolen iPhone was connected to the same Apple account you signed in to Find My with, it will appear on the list.
  4. This displays your iPhone's location on the map.
  5. To lock your iPhone with a passcode and disable Apple Pay, tap Lost Mode, and turn the feature on. You can write a message with contact info to display on the screen. [11]
    • While your phone is in Lost Mode, alerts and alarms will not display on the screen.
    • A confirmation email will also be sent to your Apple email address.
  6. If you want to erase everything on your iPhone permanently, you can select Erase This Device . This will restore your device to its original factory settings. However, this will not turn off Activation Lock, which means a thief will not be able to activate the iPhone. [12]
    • If you can get your iPhone back, you can reactivate it using your Apple Account password.
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Section 4 of 5:

Reclaiming Your Stolen Phone

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  1. If you’ve lost a traditional (non-smart) phone that does not have internet connectivity, you won’t be able to track the phone online and will have to use other methods. Begin by calling the phone. If you’re lucky, the person who stole your phone may answer. Alternatively, if your phone has simply been misplaced (e.g., on a taxi seat or a subway car), someone may answer who can meet you at a location to exchange the phone.
    • Think your phone has been stolen? Jump to info on notifying the authorities and your service provider .
    • If you call your phone and someone answers, say, “Hello, this is [your name], and you’re holding my cell phone. The phone is important to me and I need to get it back; is there a location where we could meet and exchange the phone?”
  2. Even if no one answered when you called your phone, it’s still worth texting it. The thief may eventually change their mind and decide to return the phone to you, its owner. Send a brief text that provides your contact information and asks for the phone to be returned. If you think it would help, you could also promise a reward to the individual if they return your phone.
    • To do this, you’ll need access to another cell phone. Ask a friend to borrow theirs. If you’re not near a friend, a kind stranger may allow you to borrow their cell phone to text yours.
  3. If someone—whether or not it’s the thief who initially took your phone—agrees to meet with you to give your phone back to you, take safety precautions. Arrange to meet with the individual in a public place—such as a city square or transit station—during daylight hours. If possible, don’t go alone; bring a friend with you for the sake of companionship and safety. Ask your friend to bring their phone, so that they can call the police if anything illicit happens.
    • Even if the individual returning your phone sounds friendly over the phone (or over text), you should still plan to take precautionary measures.
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Section 5 of 5:

Notifying Authorities & Your Service Provider

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  1. If you inform the police that your phone has gone missing, they may be able to provide limited assistance in locating it. Call the non-emergency police number, who will likely ask you for the serial number or IMEI of your phone. The Android ID number functions as a serial number; you can find your Android ID by removing the battery from the back of your phone and looking beneath. The Android ID will be a series of numbers preceded by the identifier “IMEI” (International Mobile Equipment Identity). [13]
    • When you reach out to the police, say something like, “Hello, I believe that my cell phone has been stolen. It went missing roughly 10 minutes ago, and I first realized the phone was gone when I was outside of the public library on Main St.”
  2. If you’ve called your phone and looked for it without results, you need to call your phone service provider and inform them that your phone has been stolen. The service provider may be able to run a GPS search to locate your missing phone. [14]
    • If a GPS search is not an option—or if the results are fruitless—ask your service provider to suspend service to your phone. This will prevent the thief from making phone calls and potentially racking up an expensive phone bill.
  3. Think back to where you may have been when your phone was stolen, and then retrace your steps in that area. The thief may have quickly changed their minds after taking your phone and, if you’re lucky, may have dropped the phone within a few hundred yards of where they stole it.
    • Walk through places where you spent time before your phone was stolen, and continue calling your phone while looking for it.
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  • Question
    How can I find my lost phone with IMEI number?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can use the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) to find a lost phone. However, you’ll need to know the IMEI (this is on the phone but also on its packaging, so if you still have the packaging but not the phone, you should be able to find the IMEI). Or, you can use Android Device Manager for Android phones or iTunes for Apple phones, to find the IMEI. Then, contact the police and your phone network with both your phone number, account ownership proof and the IMEI information and they’ll be able to track the phone if they're so inclined. There are also apps that allow you to track the IMEI too but you’ll obviously need a device other than your lost phone to operate any such app.
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    Can I track the location of a cell phone?
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    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    You can track your smartphone by enabling its tracking app. For iPhone, use the “Find My Phone” app and for Android, use the “Android Device Manager” app. Details on using these apps for tracking your phone are provided in Method 3 above.
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    Can the police track down a stolen phone?
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    Yes, the police can track a stolen phone using either your phone number or the phone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). Whether or not the police prioritize looking for your stolen phone is another matter.
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      • Always set up a security code (or lock pattern) for your phone’s home screen, so that a thief cannot have instant access to all of your data. [15]
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      • Tablets like the iPad or Amazon Fire can also be tracked using methods similar to those described above. Download a tracking app onto your tablet, and if you lose it, you can track the tablet just as you’d track a missing phone.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/3265955#zippy=,step-check-that-find-hub-is-on
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/6160491?hl=en&ref_topic=7340889&sjid=738955354594630666-NC
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/6160491?hl=en&ref_topic=7340889&sjid=738955354594630666-NC
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/6160491?hl=en&ref_topic=7340889&sjid=738955354594630666-NC#zippy=,use-the-find-hub-app
      5. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/levant/apps/smartthings-find/
      6. ↑ https://insights.samsung.com/2025/04/08/how-to-use-samsung-smartthings-find-to-track-down-a-work-phone/
      7. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/levant/apps/smartthings-find/
      8. ↑ Bryzz Tortello. Phone Repair Specialist. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102648
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104978
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/mark-a-device-as-lost-iph7cc193cfc/ios
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/erase-a-device-iph21a030ae3/ios
      4. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/protect-your-mobile-device
      5. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/protect-your-mobile-device
      6. ↑ https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/securing-your-devices/how-secure-your-devices/secure-your-mobile-phone

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Try calling or texting the phone.
      2. Open Find my iPhone or Android Device Manager .
      3. Log in with the same account you use on the lost phone.
      4. Find your phone's location on the map.
      5. Enable Lost Mode or Lock to protect your data.
      6. Be cautious of anyone who asks you to meet them to retrieve your phone.

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