Panic: you lost your iPhone! Is it somewhere between the cushions of the sofa, or did you forget it on the train? Searching and finding an iPhone will succeed with these tips.
Guide: 4 tips for finding an iPhone
It is very annoying when you have lost your iPhone. In most cases, however, the device will surface quickly. In this article, we list 4 tips that help when looking for an iPhone.
1. Find My iPhone
Anyone trying to find an iPhone starts at Find My iPhone, Apple’s service for recovering lost iPhones, iPads, AirPods and Macs. Most people have this service on. That’s a good thing now, because via the Find My app on other Apple devices and via the iCloud website you can now find your lost iPhone.
You can see the location on a clear map. A pushpin indicates the precise location. If your iPhone is connected, you can see the exact address, battery level and you can even navigate directly to the device. Is your iPhone in the couch? Then tap the button to play sound. Your iPhone will start playing a loud sound at that point.
Is your device not visible in any fields or roads? Then report it as lost. To do this, tap on ‘Activate’ under the heading ‘Register as lost’. At that point, your iPhone will be locked and others will no longer be able to try to unlock it.
At that point, your iPhone will also show a notification, as shown in the image above. If the (honest) finder taps this, he or she can contact you directly. If you are afraid that the iPhone has been stolen, you can wipe the device remotely to prevent data loss.
Turn on Find My iPhone
Before you can search for your iPhone in this way, you have to enable the function. This saves a lot of hassle the next time you lose track of your device:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone;
- Tap your name at the top of the menu;
- Select ‘Find My’ and press ‘Find My iPhone’;
- Slide the switch so that the box turns green.
2. Call yourself
If your iPhone is probably at home and the sound is on, try calling yourself or ask someone else to call you. This sounds like a simple solution and it is. Searching for your iPhone does not have to be difficult. If you haven’t enabled Find My iPhone – which we advise against – then this is the easiest way to find it.
3. Use tracking apps
There are several apps in the App Store that make it easier to find an iPhone. One of the best-known alternatives to Find My iPhone is Prey. This app keeps track of where your devices are based on GPS signals. You can therefore see Prey as the superlative Find My iPhone app.
For example, the app not only lets you know exactly where your iPhone is, you can also switch on the camera remotely to take photos in the event of theft. You can also set off a loud alarm. If your iPhone is at home, you will find it guaranteed this way. By the way, Prey is also available for macOS and therefore a great app for finding all your Apple equipment.
4. Set your Medical ID
Medical ID gives rescuers access to your most important medical data, without needing your device access code. These facts are displayed on the lock screen. Although the function is actually intended for doctors, honest finders of your iPhone can also track you down. That way they know who they are dealing with.
Therefore, set your Medical ID. To do this, go to the Health app on your iPhone and tap your profile picture. Under ‘Medical details’, select ‘Medical ID’ and create a new health report. You can also tap ‘Edit’ to change your current data. Fill in the relevant information and tap ‘Done’ to save everything.
More iPhone tips
On iPhone we are happy to help you get the most out of your iPhone. We therefore regularly share useful tips. Have you switched from Android or bought your first Apple phone? Then check out our iPhone beginner’s guide. Here we consider the most important basic tips for getting to know the iPhone. Need help with the switch? Then check out our guide to switching from Android to iPhone.
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