Find iPhone doesn't work. iPhone location by phone number

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His? After all, the device is not cheap at all, and throwing that kind of money, as they say, down the drain, for many will amount to a big problem. A few years ago, the loss of a phone was permanent in most cases, and it was quite difficult to find out where the device was located. However, now things are somewhat different. So what to do if your iPhone is stolen, how to find the device? This is what we will talk about today.

Primary actions

Probably, if we lose our device, any of us will experience shock and panic. And this seems quite logical. But here, more than ever, cold calculation and the ability to analyze events are important. For now, let’s leave all the technical nuances aside. Try to remember where you have been since the last time you carried the device with you. Think about where you could put it and leave it, forget it, or simply drop it.

It doesn't sleep, and you could just leave the device at home. Try calling your number from another phone. Even if the gadget is located outside the house and has actually fallen out, people passing by it can hear the call and answer it. Now we no longer always count on the decency of our fellow citizens, but as they say.

What to do if your iPhone is stolen? How to find the thief?

Everything ingenious is simple. Now we will not turn to the sophisticated functions that Apple devices are equipped with. If you are sure that your device has been stolen, you can try to contact the suspect. Just one word “reward” can radically change the situation. What to do next is up to you to decide. Although you don’t really want to give money for your phone, sometimes you need to do it. An inexpensive dialer may not work as well, but we are talking about iPhones.

We are trying to find the device

From year to year, representatives of the American company Apple advise platform lovers and people who are just beginning their acquaintance with Apple devices to activate the flagship search function. You can find the device only when the function has been enabled, and otherwise you can only sympathize with the owner. A sufficient and necessary condition for this is to have an account in the iCloud branded cloud storage and link it to a valid email address. The user can always handle this himself; we just remind you that this is done using the standard settings of the device. So, if you are wondering what to do if your iPhone was stolen, how to find it now, we hope that you managed to activate the search function in advance.

What restrictions will the kidnappers face?

Many users who ask: “My iPhone was stolen, what should I do?” do not realize how important it is to create an account in the iCloud cloud storage on the device and link it to an email address. In fact, the thieves who stole the device will simply not be able to activate the device again in this situation. Even installing new firmware will not bring the desired result: activation will still require your email address and password.

iPhone stolen: what to do? We control the device remotely

You may not have known that devices running on the IOS operating system are equipped with a remote control function. To do this, you should use the official website of the company. There you can find an application called “Find iPhone”. The user has the right to connect several devices to the account. He will see their list in the application. You can do without the help of the site. To do this, you need to download a program with the appropriate (“Find iPhone”) name from the application store. Its functionality remains at the same level as on the site. By the way, the function we talked about in the previous paragraph will allow

Learn more about the program, or how to find your device

Let's say you opened the program. If your smartphone is online, the user will immediately see it. At the same time, we will have a limited, but still choice of actions. First, you should look at the location of the smartphone. It is possible that he stayed at home or is with friends. Especially for such cases, the American company has provided a function for remote sound playback on the device.

You can start searching for your iPhone if it is stolen by activating the lost mode. In this case, the attacker will lose many prospects, since access to the data will be blocked. A message about this will appear on the screen, which may force the robber to change his mind. The service will record the movement of the smartphone on a satellite map of the area. As a last resort, there is a function to delete all data if the user believes that it is not possible to return the device.

Conclusion

The seventh generation operating system (and also higher) does not give attackers the opportunity to go through the process of reactivating the device. This is how blocking mode works. To maintain the appropriate level of security, update your software. The only way out in this situation for well-wishers is to hand over the device for spare parts. However, it doesn’t always come to this, and therefore there is a chance to find your device and get it back.

For users, iPhone is not just a gadget, but a significant part of life. The loss of a smartphone can, to put it mildly, be disconcerting: a person loses not only his phone, but also his diary, photos, contacts, guidebooks, and favorite music. Avoiding collapse is easy! Apple developers have done a great job, and thanks to geolocation services, it’s easy to find what’s missing. But how to find an iPhone if it is turned off? We will tell you about lifesavers that allow you to perform tracking and will help you find your device if it is stolen or lost.

Ways to find a turned off iPhone

If you have lost your phone, first call it from another number. If this has already been done and, probably, to no avail, the first step is to contact law enforcement agencies - file a report about the loss of the gadget. To contact the police you will need the following documents:

general passport;
any documents for the iPhone (international mobile equipment identifier data);
a cash receipt that confirms the purchase of the device.

If you are lucky, the investigator will be eager to find your unit and will immediately make a request to cellular operators. If the thief or finder of the phone knows nothing about iPhone tracking programs (this also happens), then you are doubly lucky. There are chances to find out which SIM card was inserted into the phone after it was lost or in what specific place the call was made using your “Apple friend”. This information helps you find your device.

Don't you hope that the valiant police will immediately rush to search for your pet? Right. After going to the police (or better yet, at the same time), start looking for the smartphone yourself. We'll tell you how to find your iPhone if it's turned off. While professional detectives get their hands on your application, perhaps you yourself will cope with the problem and find out where the expensive unit is located.

Via iCloud service

iCloud will help you find a switched off phone. This option is Apple’s official cloud storage, which allows the user to access files online from any device, saves backup copies of data on their “Apple product” and helps the owner find a lost device. At the same time, remember, in order to see where the gadget is at this time, you need to specifically connect the corresponding function.

Did your phone get lost near the computer you are using to look for your gadget? You will hear a loud sound. The siren can be heard even when the iPhone is set to silent. Do you suspect that the gadget did not disappear at home? You can protect all the information recorded on it even remotely: set a password and no one will unlock your phone. It's better to delete all data altogether. Once the device is found, they can be easily restored from a backup.

Don't forget about the great Lost Mode feature, which is also activated in iCloud. When you turn it on, your message with the specified phone number is displayed on the screen of a locked gadget - the device that finds it will be able to call you back directly from it, despite the fact that it is blocked. In addition, you can make and receive calls on an iPhone that is in lost mode.

By IMEI number

International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI, is a unique device number assigned to the device by the manufacturer. The information is intended to identify the unit on the network and is stored in its firmware. A code like a serial number is always indicated in several places:

on the smartphone itself (to recognize it, you need to type *#06# on the keyboard - the data will appear on the screen);
under the battery;
on the back of the box in which the gadget was sold;
in the warranty card.

At the request of the police or the owner of the smartphone, the cellular communication company can monitor signal transmission even when the phone is turned off. It is believed that the code cannot be faked, and if the new owner of your iPhone activates it, there is a chance that the phone number can be determined. However, as practice shows, criminals manage to bypass this method of protection.

Using the Find My iPhone app

Another application will help you find your iPhone - the program is called Find My iPhone. The service is included in the free iCloud subscription and, among other things, can determine the location of the gadget, send messages to its screen, protect the device with a password, or erase all its contents. There is no need to specifically download the application to your phone, since it is already part of the device’s operating system. For this feature to work, you need to enable Find My iPhone in the settings in advance. Geolocation determination is allowed only when the gadget is turned on (with the GPS function active).

How does Find My iPhone work?

It is impossible to use the application after losing your phone. The program must be installed in advance. Don't forget to do this, otherwise you will regret it someday! Please note that when setting up the function, the device will ask you to allow geolocation - one of the conditions for the operation of this application. It is likely that after this the battery will discharge somewhat faster.

How to enable the function via computer

Apple can be proud of this statistic: with the launch of the Find iPhone service, the number of iPhone thefts has decreased significantly. No wonder: finding a stolen device is much easier when this function is enabled. After being blocked by the owner, a smartphone in the hands of thieves becomes just a set of spare parts or a meaningless toy. You can download the Find iPhone program, but this is not at all necessary!

Procedure to enable the Find iPhone function via a computer:

You will need access to the World Wide Web. Without this there is no way.
It doesn't matter what operating system your phone has, Windows or Mac. Go to iCloud.com.
In the authorization window, enter your Apple ID information. Be careful not to agree to the “Keep me logged in” clause when working from someone else’s computer. You can check the box only when you logged in from your personal PC.
After launching the application, select your device in the “My Devices” menu.
The application will start scanning, after which an image of a map will appear on the screen, on which the location of your loss will be marked. Depending on where exactly your cell phone “rests” from you, take steps to return it.
Lost your phone in your apartment or office? Use the beep to find your device.
It turned out that the phone was left in a beauty salon or car center? Send a message to the screen of your gadget asking them to call you back on another number. This text will immediately appear on your phone.
The saddest outcome of a search situation. You realized that you lost your smartphone in a public place or, worse, it was deliberately stolen from you. Protect your personal data urgently! Set a four-digit password to prevent anyone from downloading your photos or reading your messages by erasing them remotely.
Once again: if the Find My iPhone function is not configured in advance, then you will only have to rely on the police or chance. Take care of your friend!

How to disable the feature

Another situation is possible: you will need to turn off the Find My iPhone function, for example, when selling your phone or sending it in for repair. There are two main options for deactivation: directly through the device or remotely. It’s probably not worth saying that in both cases, this function can be disabled only after entering the password for your Apple ID account. Without this there is no way.

The first method is the simplest and most convenient, but it requires access to the device:

Go to the "Settings" menu.
Find iCloud.
Scroll down the list to the “Find iPhone” position, switch the toggle switch to “off” mode.
Confirm your decision with your Apple ID account password.
After this simple operation, you will be notified by email that the function has been disabled.

Method two – if you don’t have a mobile phone on hand, you can disable the “Find iPhone” function remotely:

First you need to go to the appropriate application.
Install the program in the App Store or on the website at https://icloud.com/find.
Open the My Devices menu from the navigation bar.
Select your mobile phone from the list that appears.
Removing a smartphone from the list is only allowed when it is offline.
When working with the mobile application, click on the “Delete” button; in the web version, click the “cross”.
Finally, the application will ask you to confirm your actions and at the same time remind you that after this, another person will be able to activate the iPad.

Not everything is completely clear? Use our video instructions https://youtu.be/rLPHQ76HHvw, where the “Find iPhone” program is explained step by step and gives instructions for action to those who have lost their phone; you don’t know how to find its location. Read this lesson and you will learn how to find an iPhone by geolocation, by GPS, and you can easily find all your devices with the same Apple ID.

Video: how to find an iPhone if it's stolen

Finally, one more piece of advice: be vigilant when searching for a phone! Often, the owners of a stolen smartphone become victims not only of thieves, but also of scammers. Those who go to various forums for advice often receive emails from “well-wishers.” Attackers offer to find a phone for a reasonable fee, for example, using a satellite. Don't pay a penny to unknown people!

Watch a video tutorial that will tell you how to find your iPhone if it is turned off. What to do if you lost your iPhone? How to track an iPhone from another iPhone? My phone was stolen, how can I find it? We hope that you will never ask yourself all these questions - there will be no reason. But if trouble happens, you will quickly deal with the problem after watching a visual video tutorial on this topic. Happy searching!

Found an error in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we will fix everything!

Today iPhone is a part of life. Its loss or theft can lead to a stupor, since a person is left not only without communication, but also without a diary, contacts, music, photographs, and a guidebook.

Theft is secret theft, it is classified under Art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This act is different from robbery and fraud. The attacker not only takes the phone, but also fraudulently obtains rights to it. Robbery is the open illegal taking of someone else's property.

The developers of gadgets of this brand took care of finding the lost items. If your phone disappears, try calling it from another number. If there is no result, file a police report. To do this you must provide:

citizen's passport;
any documents on iPhone;
cash receipt confirming the purchase of the device.

The police officer will make a request to the cellular operator. Sometimes attackers do not know about the iPhone tracking function, so there is also a chance that they inserted another SIM card into the phone or made some kind of call using your device. This information will help you find the device. At the same time as the police, begin searching for the phone on your own.

Note!

iCloud is an option that helps you find even a switched off device.

iCloud is the company’s official cloud storage, which allows all users to access their own data online from any device and saves backup copies of information. But to use this function, it must be specifically turned on before the device was lost or stolen.

International IMEI is a unique number assigned to the device by the manufacturer. This code is always located:

on a smartphone - press *#06# on the keyboard to recognize it;
under the battery;
on the back of the box in which the phone was sold;
in the warranty card.

The information is stored in the unit’s firmware and is intended for its identification.

At the request of the police, the cellular operator can track the signal even when the device is turned off. The developers claim that IMEI cannot be faked. But criminals find ways to bypass this protection.

What to do if your iPhone is stolen?

If you suspect the theft of your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, to protect your information and find your gadget, you must follow these steps:

report the loss or theft to the nearest department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Police officers may request the serial number of the device;
Delete all information from the device to prevent attackers from using debit and credit card information associated with the number. Please note that after deleting the data, it is impossible to track the gadget’s geoposition using the Find My iPhone service. If you wipe your phone and then remove it from your account, Activation Lock will turn off. After this operation, an unauthorized person will be able to turn on your device and use it;
Notify your mobile operator of the theft so that they can disable the number to prevent sending messages, data transfers, calls, since the number may be covered by the operator's tariff plan.

If you suspect that your phone has gone missing outside of your home, you need to protect all information remotely by setting a password, and no one will unlock your gadget. It is better to completely delete the data, and after the device is found, the information can be easily restored from a backup copy.

One of the search options is to send a message to your number with an offer to return the device for a reward. The criminal may agree by returning the phone through third parties.

How to track an iPhone if it is stolen or lost?

To track the location of the gadget, enable the Find My iPhone function on the lost device. For this:

Sign in to the page from a Mac or Windows computer, or run Find My iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Find your device and launch the program. She will find the gadget and show the geoposition on the map. If the device is close, you can remotely turn on the sound signal in it to find it by sound;
turn on lost mode - the device will be remotely locked with a password, display a message with arbitrary text and your phone number on the lock screen, and also show the location of the device. If credit or debit cards have been added to the Apple Pay service, once the mode is turned on, it will be blocked and no one will be able to conduct transactions through the program.

What to do to ensure safety?

Use Family Sharing to let anyone in your family help find your missing device. Then you can ask your relative to sign in to iCloud using their Apple ID, after which you can find any device that is part of the family group.

Even if your phone is turned off or offline, you can still put it into lost mode, lock it, or remotely delete all data on it. As soon as the device is turned on, all changes will take effect. If you remove a device from your account while it's offline, you can undo any changes that haven't taken effect.

Procedure for committing theft

Cell phone thefts occur for the following reasons:

easy sale of stolen devices;
low crime detection rate;
ease of committing this category of crimes;
widespread use of mobile phones.

If you decide to act on your own, please note that:

all cases are unique and individual;
a general understanding of the law does not guarantee achievement of the desired result;
a positive outcome of a case depends on many factors.

If you are sure that the phone has been stolen and not lost, contact the law enforcement agency where the crime occurred. The application is written in free form, indicating the full name, contact information, a detailed description of the circumstances of the theft, the parameters of the gadget, indicating any special features - scuffs, chips, IMEI.

In your appeal, it is important to emphasize that the phone was stolen, otherwise you will receive a written refusal to initiate criminal proceedings. After accepting the application, police officers are required to issue a notification ticket.

Note!

If you block the SIM card, it will be more difficult for law enforcement agencies to find the phone.

How do the police act when an iPhone is lost?

The detection rate for this category of crimes is low. Success is largely determined by the timely initiation of a criminal case, high-quality and rapid implementation of operational investigative measures, and initial investigative actions. The starting point is the discovery by the body of inquiry of information about the commission of a crime. To do this, there are enough facts about the signs of an illegal act: traces of breaking the door to the premises, violation of the usual environment in the apartment, loss of property.

If there is sufficient information about the theft, the investigator is obliged to immediately initiate a criminal case and begin an investigation.

When there is insufficient information, there is a need to conduct a preliminary check, the purpose of which is to establish the timeliness and validity of initiating a criminal case. It involves a number of measures, the list of which depends on the circumstances of a particular theft and the time of receipt of the report of the crime.

If the application is submitted immediately after the theft has been committed, it is necessary to immediately inspect the scene of the crime to detect and secure traces of the crime. Simultaneously with the inspection, the police are interviewing witnesses among those living, working in the same enterprise, and neighboring houses. If the inspection reveals a sufficient number of signs of theft, measures are taken to pursue and detain the culprit without delay.

If the appeal was written, an explanation is taken from the applicant. The protocol or explanation must contain a detailed statement of the circumstances of the theft and an indication of the reasons for the late reporting of the crime.

What are the chances of getting your lost iPhone back?

Expensive phones are stolen more often than others, which is confirmed by criminal reports. Returning a stolen or lost iPhone is extremely difficult. The only thing that increases your chances is the development of the phone's creators - the Find iPhone function. It only works when the gadget is connected to the Internet. Through it you can determine the location of the device, as well as remotely block it. But if it's not connected to a network or is out of range, iCloud won't find it.

For the option to work, you need to enable the geolocation function and check your Internet connection. You need to remember: information about the location of the gadget can be obtained by the user only within 24 hours after the last connection to the network. If one of these conditions is not met, if your iPhone is stolen, you will not be able to return it using iCloud.

Often, while the police make a request to the cellular operator, and he responds a few days or even weeks after the loss, the smartphone ends up on the illegal market in another country and is successfully sold there.

iCloud.com allows users to access various features of Apple's iCloud cloud service, including " Find iPhone", on any device with a browser installed. Owners of an iPhone or iPad may have noticed that when trying to log into the site from a mobile device, instead of the usual login window, users are greeted with a page for launching local iOS applications for the iCloud service.

In contact with

This is not very convenient in situations where users need access to the full range of iCloud services, or in case they need to log into the web version of iCloud.com from someone else's device to find a lost iPhone.

The problem is solved quite simply. Instead of logging into individual apps, you can access the iCloud.com login window directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device using a browser.

1 . Open your browser and enter icloud.com in a new window or tab. There is also a link button for checking the activation lock status (linking an iPhone, iPad or Mac to iCloud - the “ function Find iPhone“) More about this.

3 . In the menu that appears, select the option " Full version of the site».

4 . iCloud.com will open in the desktop version, and the usual authorization window will appear on the screen.

By logging into the site, you will be able to access all functions of the service, including “ Find iPhone", the ability to disable Activation Lock for the service " Find iPhone", applications " Settings", where you can see devices linked to iCloud, " Contacts», « Notes", Pages, Keynote, Numbers, etc.

The main disadvantage of using the web version of iCloud.com on mobile devices is inconvenient navigation and difficult scrolling on devices with 4- and 4.7-inch gadgets. Sometimes, in order to open the necessary application, you have to turn the device to horizontal orientation.

If your Phone or iPad does not have a modern version of iOS (9 and above) installed, or you for some reason do not want to use Safari, you can access iCloud.com using the mobile version of Chrome.

Note. The method below also works for the Android version of Chrome.

1 . Open your browser and go to iCloud.com. Then click on the three dots button in the top right corner of the Chrome app.

2 . Select the option " Full version" in the drop-down menu to reload the page.

Probably every owner of iOS devices knows that the latest firmware (starting with iOS 4.2) is equipped with an application that allows you to track the location of the device. The service works for free. The program determines the coordinates of the place where the iPad or iPhone is currently located and transmits them to iCloud.

In contact with

And from there the user can conduct surveillance.

In order to monitor the location of your phone or tablet, you can use an application from the App Store or using the iCloud.com website using.

This is the case if the device was stolen or lost. The user will always be able to determine where his device is currently located, and for security purposes, not only protect it with a PIN code, but also, if necessary, delete all information.

Note that the program can be used by all owners of the latest Apple mobile gadgets, as well as users of computers with OS X Mountain Lion and higher installed.

Undoubtedly, (Find My iPhone) is a very useful and necessary program; it has repeatedly helped out users who lost their device due to theft or simply lost it. But there are still problems. To track a device, it must be in the Internet area. The criminal may know this, but just in case, it’s worth taking some measures to increase the device’s security in advance.

An attacker can:
– turn off the device. In this case, for a jailbroken iPhone or iPad, the PowerGuard tweak can help, which will require a password before shutting down. Of course, there is a possibility, but we can assume that the attacker will not be such an expert in iOS gadgets.
– get a SIM card. In order to remove a SIM card from an iPhone or iPad, you will need a sharp, thin object (a needle, a pin, etc.), and the criminal may not have it at the moment.
– enable airplane mode. Can save the password to unlock the device.
– disable Geolocation. Again, having an unlock password will help and Prohibition on disabling Geolocation.

You can prevent disabling Geolocation and making changes to your iCloud account (so that an attacker cannot delete personal data) as follows:

Open Settings -> Basic –> Restrictions. Click Enable restrictions, create and enter a password to enter the menu Restrictions.

Find and open a subsection Geolocation and click on "Prohibit changes". We do the same in the tab "Accounts"– put a tick next to the option "Prohibit changes".

Having done all of the above, you will greatly increase your chances of quickly finding a lost iOS device using the service (Find My iPhone).

Description

More "data-hide-text="collapse"> If you lose your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac, Find My iPhone allows you to use another iOS device to find and protect your data. Just install the free app, open it and sign in with the Apple ID you use for iCloud. With Find My iPhone, you can locate your lost device on a map, play a sound on it, show a message on the device's screen, remotely lock or wipe the device all data.

The Find My iPhone app can also enable Lost Mode on lost iOS devices. Lost Mode locks your lost device and protects it with a passcode. This mode will also allow you to display a message with a contact phone number directly on the device's lock screen. In lost mode, the device saves information about its movements and transmits it to you. Your recent location history is available for viewing in the Find My iPhone app.

Please note that Find My iPhone must be turned on in your iCloud settings on your device to be found using this app.

FUNCTIONALITY

Determine the location of your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac on a map.

Play a 2-minute beep at full volume (even if the device is muted).

Remotely lock your device using a passcode.

Display the owner's message on the locked screen.

View the location history of a device in lost mode (iOS devices).

Driving directions to the device location.

Remotely erase all data and settings on the device.

Battery charge indicator.

New for iOS 9:

View your current location and the location of your lost device on one map.

Cancel a pending data deletion request if the lost device is disconnected from the network.

Supported languages: English, English (Australian), English (UK), Arabic, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Greek, Danish, Hebrew, Indonesian, Spanish, Spanish (Mexican), Italian, Catalan, Chinese (Hong Kong), Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Malay, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Finnish, French, French (Canadian), Hindi, Croatian, Czech , Swedish, Japanese

REQUIREMENTS

Find My iPhone 4.0 requires iOS 8 or later and an iCloud account. You can create a free Apple ID to use the app in iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.
Having an Internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular network. Wi-Fi-only devices can only be discovered if they are connected to the Internet through a registered Wi-Fi network.

Anything can happen in life, and at one inopportune moment you may lose your iPhone. Do not panic if such a situation arises. To search for an iPhone, you just need to have a computer or laptop with an Internet connection on hand.

As with many other modern phones, Apple product manufacturers take care of their customers and provide the ability to track their phone in real time. But in order to do this, you will need to connect the appropriate option/program.

The iOS 6 update has given iPhone users great opportunities. Starting with this version of the OS, the “Find My iPhone” function was added, which can be used using a computer or other Apple device. So, how does this utility work, and most importantly, how can it help you find a lost iPhone? Let's consider.

Find iPhone using built-in tools

If the Find My iPhone feature was initially enabled, then you will be able to find out the location of your smartphone without any problems. By launching the corresponding application in iCloud on your computer, you can play a melody on your iPhone (to search), or simply view its geoposition on the map.

You can also enable lost mode: thanks to it, you will be able to track your phone on a map, enter a 4-digit password for a complete lock, and even display a special message on the screen. This option is usually used if your iPhone is not just lost, but stolen.

Through remote access, it will also be possible to delete all data from the iPhone, but it is worth remembering that after performing this action, you will not be able to track it.

This feature is described in more detail in the article “”, and we will look at possible options in the event that your smartphone has disappeared with the “Find My iPhone” function disabled.

Search when Find My iPhone is turned off

If the “Find My iPhone” function was turned off, then at home you will not be able to find your phone using a computer, and even YouTube will not help you. We do not consider searching by IMEI and other professional approaches here, since these methods are available to a very limited circle of people and cannot claim to be publicly available.

However, you still have the option to protect your data as follows:

The first thing you need to do is change your Apple ID password. If you do this, no one will be able to access your iCloud data, etc.
Then it is highly recommended to change all existing social profiles. networks and other services.
It is also recommended to call your mobile operator and inform them about the loss of your phone. He will be able to temporarily disable your SIM card, which in turn will not allow anyone to send messages or make calls from your number.

In conclusion, we would like to note that if you suspect that your phone has been stolen, we strongly recommend that you contact law enforcement agencies for help. To start searching for a phone through them, you will need to confirm that you are the owner of the smartphone by identifying the device. You can find it on the original box of the device, or on the “My Support Profile” page

iOS devices, in particular the iPhone and iPad, have always been and remain one of the most desirable mobile devices, not only for legal owners, but also for criminals who illegally acquire items that do not belong to them. How to protect yourself from theft or how to find an iPhone from a computer and without it? Read "under the cut".

If after reading the instructions you still cannot find your smartphone, then iPhone 6, for example, can be purchased at a discount from our partners, the iCom store.

Today's instructions will be devoted to security issues; you will find out what the “ Find iPhone" (in original " Find My iPhone"), how to set it up, how to find an iPhone from a computer and without it, what to do immediately after buying a new iPhone first of all.

Apple has always paid maximum attention to security issues, even taking into account the fact that anti-virus programs are not developed for Mac computers; they are simply not needed due to some features of the operating system itself and Apple’s approach to its distribution. So in the case of the iOS mobile operating system, with each new version, protecting your iPhone or iPad from theft or loss becomes increasingly easier. Even with the most unfavorable outcome (intentional theft), it is possible to find the device; this is quite simple to do, unless, of course, the attacker is “not in the know”; fortunately, there are not many of them.

To help you find your iPhone, whether it was stolen or lost, a special application included in iOS called “ Find iPhone". It is responsible for searching for the iPhone and not only it in case of loss, so the very first thing after purchasing a new device is to enable and configure this function. Read below to learn how to do this using an iPhone as an example.

Find My iPhone at a Glance

Find My iPhone first appeared in iOS 5.0, the presentation of which took place as part of the WWDC developer conference June 6, 2011. Since its introduction in iOS, “Find iPhone” has been separated into a separate application, which had its own icon, interface and a unique set of capabilities.

On Apple's official website, in the "iCloud Help" section, the Find My iPhone application says:

Find My iPhone helps you locate and protect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac if your device or computer is lost or stolen.

Currently Find My iPhone app available not only from under the iOS shell, but also became part of Apple’s proprietary cloud service called iCloud. You can launch and use the application from any Internet browser on a personal computer, tablet or smartphone, the platform does not matter. Besides everything else, the application can be downloaded and installed from the AppStore, it is distributed free of charge.

Application Find iPhone in the App Store

Find My iPhone allows you to:

Determine the geographic location of the device on the World map;
Remotely play a beep on your device to find it;
Use the special lost mode to block the device and track it on the map;
Remotely erase all personal data from the device.

In order to take advantage of all the features of the application, in the settings of your iOS device or Mac computer (the function has recently also been available for Apple computers) Find My iPhone must be enabled.

But before that, you need to set up synchronization of the device with the iCloud cloud service. We will certainly talk about it another time, but for now let’s move on to practice.

How do I enable Find My iPhone?

On iPhone with iOS 5.0 or higher, go to Settings – iCloud and turn the switch " Find iPhone" to position " Included«;

Finding the switch find iPhone

Enter Apple ID login and password and confirm the inclusion of the function and, as a result, the automatic activation of the geolocation service, tap on the button “ OK«.

Activation Lock for Find My iPhone

With the release of iOS 7, a new feature was added to “Find iPhone” - “ Activation Lock". This feature allows you to completely block a device linked to an Apple ID account; even flashing the device will not help. It turns on automatically when you set up Find My iPhone.

When lock is enabled, the iPhone user will be required to enter their Apple ID credentials when:

turning off “Find iPhone” on the device;
deleting an iCloud account in the device settings;
erasing personal data and reactivating the iOS device.

If Find My iPhone is enabled on your iPhone or iPad and, as a result, Activation Lock is enabled, even when updating/restoring your iPhone, after selecting your language, country, and connection to a cellular network, you will need to enter your Apple ID information to activate the device. Without this, it will be impossible to use the device, another incentive to return a stolen or found iPhone to its rightful owner, even for a fee.

The iCloud instructions say:

"If you forget your password and can't recover it, you'll lose access to your Apple ID account and may not be able to use or reactivate your device."

If for any reason you forget your login or password for your Apple ID, it will be impossible to activate your iOS device without it, even if you contact Apple support! If you have access to the email to which your Apple ID is registered, you can recover the password, but recovery does not always work. Be careful.

How to find iPhone from computer?

Let's say you've lost your iPhone and can't find it on your own. Using a personal computer with an Internet connection and the iCloud web interface, this problem can be solved quite simply.

Let us remind you once again that you can determine the location of an iOS device only when it is connected to the Internet.

Note: If at the time of search the lost or stolen device is “offline”. The map will show your last known location. Information will be available within 24 hours.

The Find My iPhone app lets you receive email notifications when your device comes online, for this:

In the application, in the “My Devices” menu, click on the name of your device;
On the page that opens, check the box next to “Notify me about a find.”

How to find iPhone via iCloud without a computer?

Find iPhone via iCloud possible not only from a personal computer, this can be done from any other mobile device (smartphone, tablet, laptop), the only condition is active internet connection. The search procedure is completely identical.

From any available device, go to iCloud.com, sign in, and access the Find My iPhone app. In the “My Devices” menu, select your device and you’re done!

It may also happen that you lost your iPhone within your home or room, and your home address will be marked on the map when determining the location of the iPhone. No problem, in this case it will be even easier to find your iPhone through iCloud.

1 On your computer, tablet, or smartphone, go to the iCloud web interface;

2 Go to the Find My iPhone application;

3 If your device is connected to the Internet, in the “My Devices” menu, select your iOS device. In the window that appears with the name of the device, click on “Play sound”. The server will send a request to the designated gadget to automatically play a loud signal.

How to block a stolen iPhone?

Find My iPhone app lets you lock your iOS device and will not allow an attacker to use it, and even flashing from or will not help.

1 In the “My Settings” menu, select the desired device;

2 In the window that appears, click on “Lost Mode”.

3 If the device is online, you will be asked to send a notification to the device with a contact phone number and text. If desired, enter a phone number where we could contact you and click “Next”;

4 In the next window, enter the text of the message that will be sent to the device and click “Done”.

After completing this operation, a text message and the specified phone number will be sent to the device. On top of that, if you set a lock password in Settings -> General -> TouchID and password, in order to unlock a device that has Lost Mode enabled, you will need to enter the specified password.

For those devices that are not on the network, when you enable Lost Mode, you can remotely set a lock password, without entering which an attacker will not be able to unlock the device after logging onto the Internet.

How to erase personal data from a stolen iPhone?

Find My iPhone has another great feature in its arsenal, with just one click. You can completely erase (delete) personal data from a stolen or lost device. In order to erase personal data you must:

1 In the Find My iPhone app on your computer or on your tablet or smartphone, select the stolen iPhone from the My Devices menu;

2 In the window that appears, click on “Erase iPhone” and confirm erasing the data.

3 Erasing data on an iPhone can be done both on a device that is online and on an unconnected iOS device. In the latter case, data erasure will be performed only when the device appears on the network.

Remember, if you initiate erasure of data on the device, it will no longer be traceable.

How do I turn off Find My iPhone?

Disabling the geolocation and remote control function of an iPhone or iPad is not difficult; you can do this on Windows or Mac, on a tablet or smartphone (the operating system does not matter). We have described 4 methods; it is difficult to recommend one specific one, because... There are different situations, we will describe the simplest one again.

On an iPhone with iOS 5.0 or higher, go to Settings -> iCloud and turn the switch next to “Find My iPhone” to the “Off” position;
In the window that appears asking you to enter your Apple ID password, enter the correct password. Ready!

To disable Find My iPhone, you must do any of the following:

Disable Find My iPhone;
Delete iCloud account in device settings;
Remove the device from your Apple ID account on iCloud.com.

A necessary condition when performing these actions is to enter data from your Apple ID account: login and password.

The function is disabled, the iPhone will not appear on the map, it will not be possible to lock it, send a sound signal or send a message. Turn off Find My iPhone only if absolutely necessary, rather than deprive your iPhone of protection.

Special thanks to the developers for notifying the email address registered as an Apple ID that the “Find iPhone” function on the device connected to iCloud was disabled.

The only time you will have to disable Find iPhone, and do it yourself, is when restoring your iPhone.

The Find iPhone application has a wide range of important features, it will certainly help in case of loss or theft of the device, it can protect the device from unauthorized use, although there is a small “BUT”.

Important – only works when connected to the Internet

Find My iPhone will only be able to locate your device if it is connected to the Internet. If the iPhone is offline, the map in Find iPhone will display its last known location and only for 24 hours.
In order for an iPhone to play sound, activate Lost Mode, or erase all personal data, the device must also be online.

If your iPhone is not currently connected to the Internet, and you have enabled Lost Mode through Find My iPhone in iCloud, it will only be activated when the device appears online.

We really hope that our instructions were useful to you and will help you protect yourself from the loss of your iPhone, iPad and Mac computer or their unauthorized use in the event of theft. First of all, turn on “Find iPhone”, set a lock password in the settings of your iOS device, these simple manipulations will certainly help you in the future.