Losing an iPhone or iPad can be costly and distressing. Theft is unfortunately common, emphasizing the need to secure our devices diligently. Fortunately, advancements in GPS technology provide us with tools to track our devices easily. With numerous apps and built-in features available, locating a lost or stolen iPhone is feasible. Here are methods to remotely locate, track, and control your missing iPhone or iPad:
Track and Control Your iPhone with “Find My iPhone”
- To access your device’s location, visit find.icloud.com and log in using your Apple ID, the same one you use on your iPhone or iPad.
- Once logged in, the page will take you directly to your device’s location on the map. Tap the location and click the Info button (denoted by “i”).
- At the top right of your screen, your device’s information will appear, showing battery percentage and offering additional remote control options for your iPhone.
- You can click “Play Sound” to alarm your device even if it’s in silent mode. Click “Erase iPhone” to completely wipe the data of your device and “Lost Mode” to add an alternate number where you can be reached along with a custom message displayed on the lost iPhone’s lock screen. If your device is with a good samaritan, they’ll call you back on the provided number to help retrieve it. If not, call the Cops immediately!
Note: Find My iPhone only works if the device is turned on and has an active internet connection. It also doesn’t work if the SIM card has been removed or the iPhone has been restored. Yes, that’s a lot of prerequisites, but that’s how it works.
To ensure future iPhone tracking, visit iOS Settings -> iCloud -> Find My iPhone and activate it.
Locating Your iPhone Using Google’s Location History
- Sign in to myaccount.google.com with your Google account. Then, select “Manage your Google activity”.
- Proceed to “Go To Activity Controls” and access the Activity Controls menu.
- If Location History isn’t enabled, do so here. For tracking, click “Manage Activity” if it’s already enabled.
- Upon completion, you’ll arrive at your Timeline, displaying your iPhone’s location on a map from a specific date. This enables you to ascertain its last tracked location.
- If you’ve inadvertently disabled Find My iPhone on your device, this method serves as an alternative for locating it, albeit without the ability to alert or erase data.
Track Your Lost iPhone Using These Apps
Besides Apple and Google’s tracking features for iPhone and iPad, numerous third-party iOS apps on the App Store offer similar functionality for remote control and tracking. To safeguard your iPhone, consider installing these anti-theft iOS apps:
1. Prey
Consider Prey as an Alternative to the default Find My iPhone feature on iOS. Prey, a free app, enables remote tracking and control of your iPhone or iPad. Its user-friendly interface simplifies navigation. Upon signing up, access Prey’s browser panel to activate alarms, send custom messages, capture photos with front and rear cameras, and conceal the app in the iOS app drawer by enabling camouflage.
With Prey, safeguard up to 3 iOS devices for free. For additional device protection, opt for an annual subscription starting at $29.99.
Installation: (Free, with in-app purchases for subscription)
2. Lookout
Lookout, a popular anti-theft app, is similar to Prey and Find My iPhone, and it’s free to download from the App Store. Simply create a Lookout account to set it up, allowing you to remotely control and locate your iPhone via Lookout’s web portal. Once logged in, you can alert your iPhone using the “Scream” button or send a customized message for easy contact. Additional features include “Signal Flare“, saving your iPhone’s location when its battery is low.
The app offers a free version, with options to upgrade to Lookout Premium or Premium Plus subscriptions. Prices start at $2.99/month and $9.99/month respectively, offering additional features such as theft alerts, photo backup, and theft insurance.
Installation: Free, with in-app purchases available for Premium subscription.
3. GPS Location Tracker
The GPS Location Tracker app discreetly saves your iPhone’s location at customizable intervals. After signing up, access your device’s coordinates via the website. Unlike some alternatives, this app lacks features like alarm triggering or customized messaging.
While the app is free to download and use, to view location history of the past 7 days and request on-demand updates, you’ll need to make a $6.99 in-app purchase. This seems steep considering Google’s Location History offers similar features for free in a neater interface.
Install: (Free, with in-app purchases)
Track and Find Your Lost iPhone With These Methods
Securing and tracking an iPhone or iPad is now effortless thanks to advanced technology. Setting this up requires only basic technical knowledge and a few minutes of your time. You no longer need to panic if you misplace your valuable iPhone, as one of these techniques should suffice.
Let us know if this article aided you in finding your lost iPhone, and share any additional methods you may have in the comments section below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
