What to Do Before and After Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen
Your phone is your wallet, your photo album, your keys to email and banking, and often the device that receives your sign-in codes. Losing it can feel like losing access to your life. The difference between a bad afternoon and a bad month is mostly what you set up before it happened.
This guide has two parts: what to do today, and what to do if the phone goes missing.
Before: set these up today
A strong screen lock
Use a six-digit or longer passcode, or an alphanumeric one, along with fingerprint or face unlock for convenience. Without a screen lock, everything else on this list matters much less.
Find My or Find My Device
- iPhone: Settings, then your name, then Find My, and turn on Find My iPhone.
- Android: look for Find My Device in Settings, often under Security or Google.
These features let you locate, lock or erase your phone from another device or a web browser.
Theft protection features
Newer iPhones and Android phones include extra protections for theft, such as requiring your face or fingerprint for sensitive changes when the phone is away from familiar places, or locking the screen automatically if the phone is snatched. Look in your security settings and turn on what your phone offers.
Backups
Make sure photos and device data are backed up so a lost phone does not mean lost memories. Our guide to backing up your phone walks through it.
Account recovery that does not depend on this phone
If your phone receives all your sign-in codes, losing it can lock you out. Save backup codes for important accounts in a password manager or on paper at home, and know how to sign in to your email from another device.
A carrier PIN
Ask your mobile carrier about adding a PIN or account lock. This makes it harder for someone to transfer your number to a new SIM card.
A record of your phone's identity
Write down your phone's IMEI number, a unique identifier you can usually find by dialing *#06# or looking in Settings under About. Police and carriers may ask for it.
After: if your phone is lost or stolen
Work through these steps in order. Speed matters most in the first hour.
1. Try to locate it
From another device or a web browser, sign in to Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android). You may see its location on a map and be able to play a sound, which is helpful if it is somewhere in your house or car.
2. Lock it and mark it as lost
Use the lost mode or secure device option. This locks the screen, can display a message with a contact number, and on many phones suspends payment cards stored in the phone's wallet.
3. Do not try to recover it yourself if it was stolen
If the location shows an unfamiliar address, do not go there. Share the information with police and let them decide what to do.
4. Contact your mobile carrier
Report the phone lost or stolen and ask the carrier to suspend your line. This stops calls and texts, including sign-in codes, from reaching whoever has the phone.
5. Secure your most important accounts
From another device, change your email password and sign out of other sessions. Then check banking, payment apps and social media. If you use a work phone, tell your employer right away so they can protect work accounts.
6. Contact your bank if payment apps were on the phone
Let your bank and card issuers know, especially if your phone could have been unlocked.
7. Erase it if you will not get it back
If recovery looks unlikely, use the remote erase option to wipe your data. Note that on many phones, erasing ends your ability to track the device, so do this after locating and reporting it.
8. File reports
File a police report, which insurance and some carriers require. If you have phone insurance or coverage through a credit card, start a claim.
Getting back up and running
When you get a replacement phone, restore from your backup, reinstall authenticator apps and update recovery phone numbers if anything changed. Then repeat the "before" checklist on the new device.
Frequently asked questions
Should I erase my phone immediately?
Not usually. First try to locate and lock it, and report it to police and your carrier. Erase once you are confident it will not be recovered, since erasing often stops location tracking.
Can a thief use my phone if it is locked?
A strong passcode makes it difficult to access your data. Thieves sometimes try to watch you type your passcode first, which is why theft protection features and a longer passcode help.
Will I lose my phone number?
No. Your carrier can move your number to a replacement phone or new SIM card once you verify your identity.
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