What to Do If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen

Losing your phone is stressful, but acting quickly — in the first hour — makes a big difference. Here is exactly what to do, in order.

Step 1: Try to locate it first

Before assuming it is gone, use Find My to locate it. Do this from any web browser or another device.

On iPhone: 1. Go to icloud.com/find on any computer or tablet. 2. Sign in with your Apple ID. 3. Click "All Devices" and select your phone. 4. You see its location on a map (if it is powered on and connected to the internet). 5. Options: Play Sound (if it is nearby), Lost Mode (locks it and displays a message with your contact number), or Erase iPhone (wipes all data — last resort).

On Android: 1. Go to android.com/find on any computer or tablet. 2. Sign in with your Google account. 3. Your phone appears on a map if it is on and connected. 4. Options: Play Sound, Secure Device (locks it), or Erase Device.

Step 2: If it is nearby — call it

Call your own number from a neighbor's phone or borrow someone's phone. If it is in a couch cushion or at a restaurant, someone may answer.

If using an iPhone, you can also ask Siri on another Apple device: "Find my iPhone."

Step 3: Lock the phone remotely

If you cannot find it within a few minutes, lock it right away.

On iPhone (via icloud.com/find): Select your phone → click "Mark as Lost." This: - Locks the phone with a passcode - Displays a message on the screen with your contact number (so a finder can reach you) - Tracks its location even after it is moved

On Android (via android.com/find): Click "Secure Device." This: - Locks the phone - Logs out of Google accounts - Displays a custom message and a callback number

Step 4: Protect your accounts

Whether the phone was stolen or just lost, change your most important passwords from a computer or borrowed device:

1. 1Email (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook) — this is the master key for all your other accounts
2. 2Online banking and investment accounts
3. 3Any accounts with payment information (Amazon, PayPal, etc.)
4. 4Social Security (ssa.gov) and Medicare accounts

Also check: Did your phone have banking apps? Call your bank to alert them a device with their app has been lost. Most banks can temporarily disable app access for your account until you get a new phone.

Step 5: Report the theft (if stolen)

If your phone was stolen: 1. File a report with your local police department. You will need your phone's IMEI number (a unique device identifier). You can find this on your original box, in your carrier account, or at Settings → General → About → IMEI on iPhone, or Settings → About Phone → IMEI on Android. 2. Call your carrier to report the theft. They can block the phone from being used on any network using the IMEI number. 3. File a report at ic3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) if you believe personal data was accessed.

Step 6: Erase the phone (if it is not coming back)

If you are confident the phone is gone and you have locked it:

On iPhone: icloud.com/find → your device → Erase iPhone. This deletes everything on the phone. Once erased, you cannot track it anymore — only do this after you have tried Lost Mode and are certain you will not recover it.

On Android: android.com/find → Erase Device. Same principle — wipes all data.

After getting a new phone

• Restore from your iCloud backup (iPhone) or Google account backup (Android) — your contacts, photos, and apps come back automatically
• Change your Apple ID or Google account password
• Update your phone number with your bank, doctor, and other important accounts if it changed
• Set up Find My again on the new device before you need it

Preventive steps to do now (before anything happens)

Write these down and keep them somewhere safe at home:

• Your phone's IMEI number (Settings → General → About → IMEI on iPhone)
• Your carrier's stolen device reporting number (Verizon: 1-800-922-0204, AT&T: 1-800-331-0500, T-Mobile: 1-800-937-8997)
• The email and password for your Apple ID or Google account (on paper, in a secure place)

Five minutes of preparation now means much less panic later.