Question

iPhone lost - what to do?

Answer 1

Find the iPhone via iCloud
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iPhone theft or loss: take precautions

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When the iPhone is gone, good advice is expensive. Fortunately, Apple has some handy features just in case..

Probably everyone who owns an iPhone has had the situation that brings sweat to their foreheads and tears to their eyes: when you put your hand in your trouser or jacket pocket, the technical gem is suddenly gone. Relocated, lost, possibly even stolen. Hundreds of euros gone! And what is even more serious: All data and photos are lost, especially the SIM card. In the vast majority of cases, the first shock is followed by the all-clear: the cell phone is on the desk at home, in the car or at the counter of the favorite bar. It is simply encrypted and can be found again quickly. Sometimes, however, an iPhone is really lost. Fortunately, Apple's security strategies will help.

• Find the iPhone via iCloud
• iPhone theft or loss: take precautions

Find the iPhone via iCloud

If the iPhone is indeed no longer findable, the first thing you should try to find it using the iCloud is to use it. The “Find my iPhone” function is automatically set up on all iPhones (and iPads) when you log into iCloud. This is usually done when the device is set up for the first time. Unless you knowingly turned it off - which we only recommend for sale just before resetting the device - the chances are good that you will find a lost device again.

1st step:

Go to the Apple website www.icloud.com and log in with the same Apple ID that you use on the iPhone.

2nd step:

If you have activated 2-factor authentication on your iPhone, but no other Apple device with which you can confirm your login to iCloud, click on " iPhone search " under the input field . This gives you limited access to the device search, which is why you can skip to step 4. However, if you have another Apple device at hand, we recommend that you use 2-factor authentication. To do this, enter the code that is displayed on your device.

3rd step:

Click on “ iPhone search ”: The iPhone uses this function to report its location. However, this is only possible if the device is switched on and receiving data. Unfortunately, you cannot search for a device with an empty battery or in flight mode.

4th step:

For security reasons, iCloud will now ask for your password again. This is to protect against unauthorized searches so that third parties cannot search for you with an open iCloud website. Enter the password and click on " Login ".

5th step:

All devices that are connected to the search function are now searched for. Depending on how many iPhones, iPads, and Macs you use with the same Apple ID, this may take a while.

6th step:

You can now see the location of your devices on a map. Not all points are in the same place when you are at home, but that's because GPS is not 100 percent accurate indoors.

7th step:

Select your iPhone from the device list at the top.

8th step:

The iCloud iPhone search will now tell you the location of the device . If it is near your home, there are only three possibilities: you lost it at home, it is in the car or you lost it somewhere near your home.

9th step:

First click on " Play sound ". The iPhone now reports with an annoying sonar noise that it should make it much easier to find it inside the apartment or in the car - for example if it has slipped behind the seat.

10th step:

If you cannot find the iPhone in this way, you should click on Lost Mode . The system will now ask you for your phone number . Attention: Here you should enter a phone number that can be reached - not the number of the lost iPhone! The background: In the "Lost" mode, this phone number is displayed so that a finder can contact you. Then click on “ Next ”.

11th step:

You can now enter a message for the finder . Keep it short and sweet. If you are abroad, you should write the message in the local language. Then click on “ Done ”.

12th step:

The iPhone is now locked so far, the data is safe for now. If someone presses a key, the message including the phone number is displayed. If you still find the iPhone yourself or get it back, all you have to do is unlock it to deactivate the mode.

13th step:

Alternatively, you can stop the mode in the iCloud by pressing the corresponding button.

14th step:

If you are sure that the iPhone is permanently lost - perhaps because it was stolen - you should press the button " Erase iPhone ". This removes all data from the device as long as it is still switched on and accessible. Don't worry: you should normally have an iCloud backup , so restoring it isn't a problem. If the iPhone is really gone, you should also have the SIM card blocked by your provider so that the finder or thief of the device does not use it for expensive international calls or special services.

iPhone theft or loss: take precautions

To ensure that all of this works in the worst-case scenario, you should immediately check the following measures. Because once the device is gone, you can of course no longer optimally prepare it for loss. So: Have your iPhone handy and check the following:

• Open iPhone settings and tap your name . Select " iCloud " and make sure that the " Find my iPhone " and " iCloud backup " functions are activated. How to activate the "Find my iPhone" function on your iPhone is explained step-by-step in this guide.

• Be sure to write down your iPhone's IMEI, serial number, and model number . The model is of course also useful. The police need both details for a theft report and can assign a device that has been found in this way. You can find all information under Settings > General > Info . They can also be found on the packaging of the iPhone.

• If you leave the house with your iPhone, you should never turn on airplane mode . The data options should also always be active.

• Charge the iPhone before you go: If the power goes away, iPhone search won't do anything either.

• Even if it is annoying, you should definitely set the iPhone so that the passcode lock is activated immediately when you put the iPhone away. If you use Touch-ID or Face-ID, this will be set automatically. This ensures that no unauthorized person can access the data.

• Choose a secure code or a sensible password so that a potential finder or thief cannot bypass Touch and Face ID. You can also set the iPhone under Settings > Touch ID & Code or Face ID and Code so that data is automatically deleted after 10 failed login attempts.

• Choose a fixed place for the device even when you are out and about : a mobile phone holder in the car, a specific jacket or trouser pocket or a specific compartment in your handbag. In this way, you can check with one hand that the device is still there.

• Use the iCloud Photo Library . As a result, images and videos are immediately uploaded to the cloud. This protects against data loss. Also, don't save files locally, but in iCloud. In this tip we explain how to set up iCloud on the iPhone.

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