How to increase your chances of finding your iPhone if it’s lost or stolen?

Just bought an iPhone? Before using your price with a light heart, it is recommended that you adopt some good practices. Some iOS features require special attention. If configured correctly, they can be of great help to you and, above all, improve your chances of finding your iPhone if it’s lost (or stolen).

At the same time, by adopting certain reflexes, you will increase your chances of locating and possibly recovering your iPhone. Here’s everything you need to know to increase your chances of recovering your iPhone before you lose it.

1. Configure the deployment

If you didn’t do so when you first set up your iPhone, it’s highly recommended that you enable Find Me. Launched in 2010 with iOS 4.2, it lets you locate your iPhone on a map if it’s lost (or stolen), as the name suggests. Open to verify that Find My is enabled on your device Parameters Enter your settings from iOS iCloudthen in the menu Place itinsert find my iphone and activate the function.

Then take the opportunity to activate the option Find a network. This will allow you to locate your device even if it is offline, turned off or in standby mode. At the same time, the iPhone will be part of the Find My network, which other iPhone owners can rely on to locate their device if it goes missing.

Finally, be sure of the choice Send last position is enabled so that your iPhone’s location is sent to Apple if your device’s battery is close to empty.

2. Accept the eSIM

If you haven’t already, it’s best to ditch your physical SIM card in favor of an eSIM. It’s in digital format, integrated directly into the iPhone. Therefore, it cannot be removed from the iPhone to fraudulently use it on another device. Also, your iPhone will stay connected to the cellular network and give you a chance to call your own number, maybe a good Samaritan can pick up and return your property.

3. Fill out your medical form

If your iPhone is lost (and you realize it a little too late), the benevolent soul who got hold of it is probably looking for a way to find you. Instead of waiting for a hypothetical call that would allow him to have your identity, you can make the task easier for him by filling out your medical form. This can actually be accessed directly from the iPhone’s lock screen after pressing the Emergency button and selecting the Medical card option. The person who finds your iPhone will certainly know your blood type and measurements, but above all, they will have access to the contact information of someone who knows you and can contact you in case of an emergency.

Open your medical file for completion on iOS Parameters and enter the menu Health. Then enter the menu Medical form and press Create a medial sheet. Finally, make sure there is a choice Show in locked mode is activated correctly.

4. Turn off Control Center on Lock Screen

It’s also a good idea to prevent access to the iOS Control Center from the device’s lock screen to prevent your iPhone from going into airplane mode and disconnecting from the network completely. Open to do this Parametersenter the menu Face ID and passwordand enter your lock code to access the options. Scroll through all the offers until you reach the section Allow access in locked mode and turn it off Control center.

5. If you forget, be warned

If you’re lucky enough to own an Apple Watch (running at least WatchOS 8), you can configure the Find My app to receive notifications on your watch when you leave a place without taking your iPhone with you.

To do this, open the program Place it On iPhone, select your device from the list and expand the settings panel to full height. Enter the menu Let me know if you forgetenable the option and add the places you want to be notified when you leave them by forgetting your iPhone.

Despite your best efforts, all is not lost if you misplace your iPhone. If it wasn’t stolen, you may still have a chance (even a slim one) of locating it and possibly recovering it. Here are some good reflexes to adopt.

1. Locate your iPhone on the map

When you misplace your iPhone, time is your worst enemy. Therefore, it is important that you try to locate your iPhone as soon as possible, at least before your device’s battery dies completely.

To do this, bring your smartphone, tablet, computer or any other device that can connect to the Internet and has a web browser, go to https: //www.icloud.com/find/ as soon as possible.

After signing in with your iCloud ID, you should be able to access the beautiful Apple Maps where you should see the little green dot of your lost iPhone. This is at best its real-time geolocation and at worst its last recorded location. If you are not too far from where your device is, you can try to approach it, then press the button. To call. You can then distinguish the iPhone’s ringtone, which will help you track down where (or who) it is.

2. Enable lost mode

If your iPhone’s location is too far from where you are, you’ll take your chances by enabling this feature. Lost mode.

Once placed, this mode locks the iPhone and allows you to display a message explaining that your device is misplaced. You can also include contact information so that a kindred spirit can get back to you.

3. Don’t respond to suspicious text messages

If your iPhone is stolen, you’ll likely receive a text or email in the days or weeks following the theft, telling you that your iPhone has been located. Generally, the message is accompanied by a link to a web page that looks a lot like Apple’s Find My and requires you to connect your iCloud account or enter your unlock code.

PLEASE HELP ??

My phone was stolen on 05/03. I put it in lost mode. I just got a call from a US number saying my iPhone is in lost mode: is this a way for thieves to reset my passcode? + SMS pic.twitter.com/g5ULOmnV1h

— KRY Kaeliyn (@kaeliyn_) March 20, 2022

Above all don’t go there, don’t click or join anything at all! This is most likely a phishing site set up by thieves to steal your iCloud ID and password. If you’re getting this kind of message, it’s because your device has crossed the French border.

With the valuable information obtained through their cheats, crooks will be able to disable the activation lock on the iPhone. Therefore, disable Find My Device on your device, which will allow them to reset it to give it a new life in other latitudes.

4. Erase iPhone

Does your iPhone seem to be lost forever? It’s best to empty it of all your personal data since you’ll probably never find it. You can do this remotely again by visiting https://www.icloud.com/find/ where you will find an option to do so. Erase your iPhone. All device contents and settings will be deleted.

The iPhone will still be located (if you’ve enabled Find a Network) but unusable, and the activation lock will remain in place. At worst, thieves will be able to use it as a paperweight or a door stop, and at best, they’ll be able to disassemble it to remove parts (except for the motherboard, which will be useless).

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