Losing your iPhone can be a stressful experience—but Apple has designed powerful tools that can help you locate it even if it’s offline or turned off. Thanks to the Find My network and other security features, you still have a good chance of getting your device back. This guide walks you through the steps to track, lock, or report your missing iPhone—no matter its status.
1. Use the “Find My” App
The Find My app is your primary tool for locating a lost iPhone. If you set it up before losing your device, it can show your phone’s last known location—even when it’s offline.
To use it:
- Open the Find My app on another Apple device, or go to iCloud.com/find
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Select your iPhone from the device list
- You’ll see its location on the map (or the last known position if it’s offline)
If your phone is turned off, the map may still show its last location thanks to the Find My network, which uses Bluetooth signals from nearby Apple devices to locate yours.
2. Enable “Notify When Found”
If your iPhone is offline, you can enable Notify When Found in the Find My app:
- Tap on your device in the list
- Scroll down and turn on Notify When Found
You’ll get a notification as soon as your iPhone comes online again—whether it connects to Wi-Fi or cellular data.
3. Play a Sound or Mark as Lost
Once you’ve selected your iPhone in Find My, you can take action:
- Play Sound – If the phone is nearby but you can’t find it, this triggers a loud ping even in silent mode
- Mark as Lost – This locks your iPhone with a passcode and displays a message with your contact info on the screen
It also disables Apple Pay and tracks location changes
To use Mark as Lost:
- Open Find My > Devices
- Select your iPhone and choose Activate under Mark As Lost
- Follow the instructions to enter your phone number and custom message
4. Can You Locate a Turned-Off iPhone?
Yes—if you have iOS 15 or later, and Find My was enabled before the phone was lost, the iPhone can be located even if:
- It’s powered off
- The battery is dead
- It was turned off intentionally
This works using Ultra-Wideband and low-energy Bluetooth, which allow nearby Apple devices to detect and relay your iPhone’s location anonymously and securely.
This feature only works if:
- Find My is turned on in Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone
- Find My network and Send Last Location are enabled
5. If You Can’t Recover the Device
If you believe your iPhone was stolen or permanently lost:
- Use Mark as Lost to lock the device and protect your data
- Change your Apple ID password to prevent unauthorized access
- Report the device as lost to your carrier—they may block the SIM and help track it
- Report the loss to local authorities if needed
If you’ve activated Mark as Lost, and someone turns on your iPhone, it will remain locked and display your message—even after a reset.
6. Consider AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss
If you purchased AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage, you may be eligible for a replacement. You’ll need to:
- Ensure Find My was enabled at the time the iPhone was lost
- File a claim through Apple’s support website
- Pay the applicable deductible
Losing your iPhone doesn’t mean losing everything. Apple’s Find My network, combined with offline tracking and remote locking, offers a robust defense against theft or misplacement. Act quickly, use the tools available, and you might just get your iPhone back—or at least keep your data safe.
