How to find a lost phone, step by step
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In short: find an Android phone at google.com/android/find (Google's Find Hub, formerly Find My Device), and an iPhone at icloud.com/find or in the Find My app on another Apple device. Sign in with the same Google or Apple account that was on the lost phone. If it was stolen, contact the police; in Georgia call 112.
Finding an Android phone
- From a computer or another phone, open google.com/android/find or the Find Hub app.
- Sign in with the lost phone's Google account. Its last known location appears on the map.
- Choose Play sound (rings even on silent), Secure device with a message and a number, or, as a last resort, Factory reset.
Samsung phones also have SmartThings Find (smartthingsfind.samsung.com).
Finding an iPhone
- Open icloud.com/find, or Find My on another iPhone, iPad or Mac.
- Choose the phone. An iPhone shows up even without an internet connection, with help from nearby Apple devices.
- Turn on Lost Mode: the phone locks and shows your message on the screen.
Can you find a phone by its number?
A private person can't find a phone's location from its number alone. The mobile operator has this data, but only gives it to law enforcement with legal authority. So websites and apps that promise to "locate a phone by number" are usually scams or are harvesting your data.
If it was stolen: report it to the police (112 in Georgia) and ask your operator to block the SIM card. The IMEI code is on the phone's box or in your Google or Apple account.
So your child's phone doesn't get lost
Children often leave their phone at school, on the bus or in the yard. In Heri your child's phone shows on the family map. Heri's siren makes the phone ring loudly even in silent mode, so you can find it nearby. And you get an alert before the battery dies, so you have its last location. Child location tracking in Heri.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a phone that is switched off?
Find Hub and Find My show a switched-off phone's last known location. Newer iPhones and some newer Android phones can keep showing their location for a few hours even when switched off.
What if I don't remember my Google or Apple password?
Reset it at accounts.google.com or iforgot.apple.com with your recovery email or number. Time matters when you're looking for a phone, so sort this out in advance.
Does Heri find a lost phone?
Heri shows the location of family members' phones on the map and can make a child's phone ring with the siren. Heri has to be installed on the phone before it's lost.