How to Find a Lost iPhone or Android Phone: Set It Up Before You Need It

ByTom Becker

It happens to everyone: you reach for your phone and it is not there. Free tools built into iPhone and Android phones can help you find it. The catch is that they only work if they were turned on before the phone went missing. This guide shows how to set them up now, and what to do if you ever need them.

The steps below follow Apple and Google’s help pages as read in November 2026. Menu names can differ a little between phone models and software versions.

On an iPhone: Turn On Find My

Apple says that if Find My was not on before the phone was lost, it will not show up on the map and you cannot lock or erase it from afar. Set it up today:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap your name at the top, then tap Find My.
  3. Tap Find My iPhone and turn it on.
  4. Turn on Find My network. This helps you see the phone even when it is offline.
  5. Turn on Send Last Location. The phone then tries to send its position to Apple when the battery is very low.

If Your iPhone Is Missing

  1. On another Apple device, open the Find My app and tap Devices. Or go to icloud.com/find on any computer and sign in with your Apple Account.
  2. Choose your iPhone to see it on a map.
  3. If it is nearby, choose Play Sound.
  4. If it is not, you can turn on Lost Mode. This locks the phone with your passcode and lets you show a phone number where someone can reach you.

Apple says to use Erase only as a last resort, because erasing cannot be undone.

On an Android Phone: Check Find Hub

Google’s tool is called Find Hub (it used to be called Find My Device). Some steps below only work on Android 14 and newer. Google says that if you have a Google Account on your phone, Find Hub is turned on automatically, but it is worth checking.

  1. Open Settings and make sure your Google Account is listed.
  2. Go to Location and turn on Use location.
  3. Go to Security, then Find Hub, and make sure Allow device to be located is on.
  4. To find the phone when it is offline, open the Find Hub settings and choose Find your offline devices. You will be asked to set a screen lock if you do not have one.

If Your Android Phone Is Missing

  1. On another Android phone or tablet, open the Find Hub app. Or go to android.com/find on a computer.
  2. Sign in with your Google Account. If you are helping someone else, you can choose to sign in as a guest.
  3. Choose the missing phone to see where it is.
  4. Choose Play sound to ring it at full volume for 5 minutes, even if it is on silent.
  5. If you cannot get it back, choose Mark as lost to lock it with your PIN, pattern or password and add a message with a phone number.

Google says a factory reset deletes everything on the phone. Save that step for when you are sure it is gone for good.

Beware of “We Found Your Phone” Messages

Apple says it will never contact you to say your iPhone has been found. Be careful with any text or email that claims your phone was found and asks you to click a link or sign in. Never share your passcode, passwords or verification codes with anyone who asks.

If a phone is lost or stolen, you may also want to call your bank and your phone carrier. And if you have not yet set up your emergency details, see our guides for iPhone and Android.

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