What To Do If Your Phone Is Lost
Lost your phone? Here’s what you can do.
If you fear your iPhone has been stolen, you can remotely erase its data. If you have an Android phone, use Find My Device (or search Google for “where’s my phone”). Google will show your phone’s location on a map. From there, you can ring your phone for 5 minutes – even if it’s on silent mode.
You’ll also have options to lock your phone, display a lock screen message with a phone number, sign out of your Google account and remotely erase your data. Other options with similar features include Samsung Find My Mobile and T-Mobile Lookout Mobile Security.
If you use your phone for banking, it’s a good idea to contact your bank and credit card companies to find out how to remotely log out of their apps and to let them know your phone is missing in the event of unrecognized charges.
Here are links and numbers to report your phone lost or stolen to major carriers:
Previous: Can You Trade In a Prepaid Phone? What Are They Worth?Call your phone
If you misplaced your phone at home, work or a friend’s house, a quick call might locate it. Phone on silent? You might still hear it vibrate.Find your phone on a map, play a sound, track it, lock it or erase it
If you have an iPhone, use Find My iPhone to locate it on a map or play a sound to help you find it. You can also turn on Lost Mode, which remotely locks your iPhone and tracks its location. It also displays a custom message and phone number so anyone who finds it can contact you. Lost Mode disables Apple Pay.If you fear your iPhone has been stolen, you can remotely erase its data. If you have an Android phone, use Find My Device (or search Google for “where’s my phone”). Google will show your phone’s location on a map. From there, you can ring your phone for 5 minutes – even if it’s on silent mode.
You’ll also have options to lock your phone, display a lock screen message with a phone number, sign out of your Google account and remotely erase your data. Other options with similar features include Samsung Find My Mobile and T-Mobile Lookout Mobile Security.
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Protect your accounts
Remotely log out of accounts you use on your phone, including cloud storage and email clients. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow you to log out remotely, and you can visit Google’s recently used devices page to log your phone out of Google services.If you use your phone for banking, it’s a good idea to contact your bank and credit card companies to find out how to remotely log out of their apps and to let them know your phone is missing in the event of unrecognized charges.
Protect yourself
If someone finds your phone and contacts you, never give out personal information like your address. Instead, arrange to meet the person in a busy, well-lit public area and take a friend along for security. Even better, meet at your local police station.Report your phone lost
Contact your carrier and report your phone lost. They can suspend service and/or add your IMEI to the blacklist so it can’t be activated on other networks (if you find it later, you can still sell a blacklisted phone).Here are links and numbers to report your phone lost or stolen to major carriers:
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Make an insurance claim and get a replacement phone
Phone lost for good? Stolen? If you have the right coverage, you can make an insurance claim to get a replacement. Here are links to file an insurance claim with major carriers, Apple and Samsung:Related Help
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