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Lost Your Phone? How to Find It, Step by Step

Lost your phone? How to find it with Find Hub on Android or Find My on iPhone, what to do if it was stolen, and how IMEI blocking really works.

By NextLocator Team Updated 3 minute read

Map showing Sam's phone, last seen 3 minutes ago, with a button to ask for a fresh location

Quick answer

On another phone or computer, go to google.com/android/find for an Android phone, or icloud.com/find for an iPhone, and sign in with the account used on the lost phone. You'll see where it is if it's on and connected, and you can make it ring, lock it or erase it. If it was stolen, don't go after it yourself. Report it to the police with the IMEI number.

Key takeaways

  • Act fast. The sooner you look, the more likely the phone is still on.
  • Android uses Find Hub. iPhone uses Find My. Both work from any browser.
  • A family locator app shows your circle the phone's last known location.
  • Stolen? Report it with the IMEI and let the police handle it.

In the first few minutes

  1. Call your phone from another phone. It may be down the side of the sofa.
  2. If it's on silent, use Find Hub or Find My to make it ring at full volume.
  3. Think back to where you last used it, and check your location history in your family locator app or Google Maps.

How to find a lost Android phone

  1. In any browser, go to google.com/android/find, or open the Find Hub app on another Android phone.
  2. Sign in with the Google account that is on the lost phone.
  3. You'll see the phone on a map, with its battery level and when it was last online.
  4. Choose Play sound, Secure device (locks it and shows a message with your number) or Factory reset (erases everything, as a last resort).

This works if the phone is on, signed in to Google, and location was turned on. Many newer Android phones can also be found for a while when offline, through the Find Hub network.

How to find a lost iPhone

  1. Go to icloud.com/find, or open Find My on another Apple device.
  2. Sign in with your Apple Account.
  3. Select the iPhone to see it on the map.
  4. Choose Play Sound, Mark As Lost (locks it and shows your message) or Erase.

iPhones can usually be found even when they're offline, through Apple's Find My network, as long as Find My was turned on.

How a family locator app helps

S Sam's phone Last seen 2 hrs ago Updated just now Ask for location
Your circle sees the phone's last known location, and can ask for a fresh one if it's still on.

If you're in a NextLocator circle, everyone in it can see your phone on the map, with the time it last updated. That's often the quickest clue: last seen at the café, twenty minutes ago.

If the phone is still on and connected, someone in your circle can tap Ask for a fresh location to see where it is right now. It won't make the phone ring, so use Find Hub or Find My for that.

If your phone was stolen

  • Don't try to get it back yourself. No phone is worth getting hurt over.
  • Find your IMEI. It's printed on the phone's box and often on the receipt. Find Hub can also show it for Android phones.
  • Report it to the police with the IMEI. In Bangladesh, file a General Diary (GD) at your nearest police station.
  • Call your mobile operator to block the SIM. They can also block the phone itself using the IMEI.
  • Change your passwords, starting with email, banking and social media.

Do this now, before you ever lose it

  • Check that Find Hub (Android) or Find My (iPhone) is turned on.
  • Dial *#06# and write down the IMEI it shows.
  • Set a screen lock.
  • Join a family circle, so someone always knows where your phone was last seen.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find my lost phone using the IMEI number?

Not on your own. Only the police and mobile operators can use an IMEI to trace or block a phone. Apps that claim to find a phone by IMEI don't work.

Can I find my phone if it is switched off?

You can see its last known location. Many newer Android phones and iPhones can still be found for a while when switched off or offline, through Google's and Apple's networks.

How do I find my lost phone using Gmail?

Go to google.com/android/find and sign in with the Gmail account on the lost phone. It shows the phone's location if it is on and connected.

Can my family help find my phone?

Yes, if you share your location with them. In NextLocator, your circle sees your phone's last known location and can ask for a fresh one.

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