What To Do If Your IPhone, IPad Or IPod Touch Is Stolen Or Lost

2023 Author: Gordon Kinson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 08:36

Having an expensive gadget in your hands, it is imperative to activate all the capabilities related to the security of the device, especially when you are dealing with Apple technology that has enviable protective functionality. In this article, we will tell you how to secure your iOS device and help you cope with a life situation in which your iPhone or iPad may be lost or even worse - stolen.

Have the Lock Screen Passcode (Touch ID) and Find My iPhone been activated?

Every iPhone or iPad owner with iOS 7 or a later version of iOS has two basic tools to protect data and the device itself from unforeseen circumstances:

Screen lock + Touch ID (Home button with fingerprint sensor) - Prevents access to personal data using a lock password and fingerprints. The function is activated along the path Settings -> Touch ID and password. Even if your device is not equipped with a Touch ID sensor, do not be lazy to use a four- or six-digit PIN to unlock the device, because in the future this can prevent personal data from falling into the wrong hands

The Find iPhone function will provide a wide range of tools for finding a device, blocking and deleting data and communicating with a person who finds or takes possession of your gadget. The function is activated along the path Settings -> iCloud -> Find iPhone

By activating these two functions, or at least the second, you can solve an unforeseen problem even without the help of law enforcement agencies. If the functions are not included, then you can safely take the box from the iPhone (iPod touch or iPad) and documents on the purchase of goods and go to the nearest police department to write a statement about theft. Well, if everything is included, then proceed to the steps described below.

How to find a stolen or lost iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

If you didn’t find the device in its place, it doesn’t mean that it was lost. Perhaps the gadget just fell over the sofa and you can't find it.

1. Go from your computer to icloud.com.

2. Enter your Apple ID and password.

3. Tap on the "Find iPhone" icon.

4. At the top of the list of devices, select the gadget you are interested in.

five. If the device is near you on the map, just on the right side of the device menu, click Play Sound.

If on the map it is located in an unfamiliar place or is not displayed at all, go to the next item.

How to activate Lost Mode on iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

If, after all, the iPhone or iPad has been stolen, the first thing to do is put the device into Lost Mode. Thanks to him, you can set a lock password for the gadget (if it has not been set earlier) and leave a private message on the locked screen, which indicates the phone number that you can call to return the device to the owner.

To perform these actions:

Follow steps 1-4 from the previous instruction.

1. On the right in the menu with the device, activate the "Lost Mode".

2. Enter the number where you can be contacted and click "Next".

3. You can selectively write the message text and click the "Finish" button.

We are waiting for a call. If he does not receive it, we proceed to tougher measures.

3. We contact law enforcement agencies

As mentioned above, if the first two points do not help, then it's time to contact the police. Do not forget to take your documents with you (you will need at least the serial number of the device, we described in detail here how to find it). Search work is usually carried out in conjunction with a mobile operator, so it will not be superfluous to take a service contract as well. The measure is not useless. Two of my acquaintances (one dialer and one iPhone) had their phones successfully found, although after a few months, in third hands and in a rather shabby state.

4. We erase data

If nothing worked, and you understand that the gadget cannot be returned, then erase the data remotely.

Follow steps 1-4 from the first part of the instructions, then on the right in the menu with the device, tap on the "Erase iPhone" button.

Hopefully, you never run into these kinds of problems, but if they do, you know what to do!

See also:

• How to check if an iPhone or iPad is connected to iCloud (Find iPhone).
• How to find an iPhone using Apple Watch.
• Forgot your Apple Watch password: how to reset to factory settings.
• How to quickly launch Accessibility preferences on Mac OS X.