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    How to Find a Lost iPhone or Apple Device with the Find My App

    Use Apple's Find My app to locate a missing iPhone, AirPods, or other Apple device on a map — and optionally share your location with family.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Make sure Find My is turned on

    ~25s
    On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap your name at the very top. Tap your device name (like "Bailey's iPhone"). Make sure "Find My iPhone" is switched on (the toggle should be green). Also turn on "Send Last Location," which automatically reports your phone's location to Apple when the battery is very low.

    Quick Tip

    Turn this on now, before you ever need it. You cannot turn it on remotely after a device goes missing.

    2

    Open the Find My app

    ~18s
    Find the green Find My app on your iPhone (it has a green background with a location pin). Tap it to open. You will see three tabs at the bottom: People, Devices, and Items. Tap "Devices" to see all the Apple devices connected to your Apple ID, along with their locations on a map.
    3

    Locate a missing device

    ~26s
    Tap the name of the device you are looking for. A map will appear showing its current or last known location. Below the map, you will see options: "Play Sound" (makes the device beep loudly even on silent), "Directions" (opens Maps to navigate to the location), and "Mark as Lost" (locks the device and displays a contact message on screen).

    Quick Tip

    "Play Sound" is the fastest way to find a phone that slipped between couch cushions. Tap it and follow the beeping.

    4

    What to do if the device is lost or stolen

    ~33s
    If you cannot get to the device's location or believe it was stolen, tap "Mark as Lost." This locks the phone with a passcode and displays a custom message (like your phone number) on the lock screen. It also disables Apple Pay. If you are sure you will never get the device back, you can tap "Erase This Device" to wipe all personal data from it remotely.

    Warning

    Erasing the device removes all data and makes it impossible to track after the erase completes. Only do this as a last resort if you are certain the device is permanently gone.

    5

    Share your location with family

    ~18s
    Tap the "People" tab in Find My. Tap "Share My Location" to send an invitation to a family member. They will need to accept it on their iPhone. Once connected, you can both see each other's locations on the map. To stop sharing, tap their name and select "Stop Sharing My Location."

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Find a Lost iPhone or Apple Device with the Find My App

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Apple's Find My app is built into every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It helps you locate a device if it goes missing — whether you left it on the couch, misplaced it in your car, or had it stolen. You can see its location on a map, play a sound to help you find it nearby, or lock it remotely if you think it was stolen.

    Find My also lets you track AirPods, Apple Watch, and other Apple devices associated with your Apple ID. For AirPods, it can tell you the last location where they were connected to your phone.

    To use Find My, you need to have it turned on before your device goes missing. If you set up your iPhone normally, it is likely already turned on. You can check in Settings — tap your name at the top, then tap your device name, and look for "Find My iPhone."

    If your iPhone's battery dies, Find My can still help. Apple's Find My network uses other nearby Apple devices (anonymously and without anyone else knowing) to detect your device and report its location. This is called the "offline finding" feature.

    You can also use Find My to share your location with family members so they always know where you are. This is especially useful for peace of mind between family members who want to keep an eye out for each other.

    Find My is available on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and also through iCloud.com on any computer — useful if the device you are trying to find is your only Apple device.

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    How to Find a Lost iPhone or Apple Device with the Find My App — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure