If you are using an iPhone, you might be comforted that Apple has included a function in which you can find your iPhone if you misplaced it or got your iPhone stolen. As your iPhone is one of the most critical and expensive gadgets that you own, this function will come handy to you in the future.
Your iPhone might also have relevant files or photos that
you would not be able to replace. By knowing these three ways how to find your
iPhone in case you got it stolen or lost, this tips can increase the chance of
you retrieving back your iPhone.
Here are the three ways how you can find your iPhone.
HOW TO USE “FIND MY IPHONE” TO TRACK LOST IPHONE
Step 1
Open a web browser using your laptop or your friend’s
smartphone.
Go to “Location Sharing” or “Your Timeline” to see your
iPhone’s location
However, you should have activated the Google Maps location
sharing first before you lost your iPhone as pre-requisite step or this method
would not work.
Here are the steps.
Step 1
First, you need to install the Google Maps app on your
iPhone. Once installed, in your iPhone, go to Settings.
Step 2
In the Settings, tap “Google Maps.”
Step 3
In the Google Maps settings, tap “Location.”
Step 4
Enable the Location Sharing to “Always”.
By enabling this to “Always”, your iPhone continuously transmit your location sharing data to Google as long as your iPhone is turned on and connected to the internet.
HOW TO USE IMEI
NUMBER TO FIND YOUR LOST IPHONE
If all the above tips did not work for you, the last resort is to use your iPhone IMEI number as a way to find your iPhone. You can ask for your service network provider the assistance on this as they can use their vast network of a cell tower to track your iPhone based on your IMEI number. However, not all countries allow this. It is very much dependent on your country as well as the services that are being offered by your service network provider.
So, if you have tried all the methods above but still could
not track down your iPhone, the first step you need to do is to:-
Report your lost iPhone to the police
Use your iPhone’s IMEI number as a reference to
your lost iPhone
Use the police report to get assistance from the
network service provider to track your lost iPhone
However, it is also essential that you know your iPhone’s IMEI number beforehand. Here are the steps on how to find your IMEI number.
HOW TO FIND YOUR PHONE’S IMEI NUMBER
Step 1
In your iPhone, go to “Settings.”
Step 2
In the Settings, go to “General.”
Step 3
In the General Settings, go to “About.”
Step 4
You will see your iPhone’s IMEI number here. Keep a record of your iPhone’s IMEI number somewhere safe.
So, there you have it — three ways how you can find your
lost iPhone. Please leave us a comment below on what other methods that you
have used to try and find your lost or misplaced iPhone.
Tracking your phone have been made easy nowadays. This is due to the apps that can utilize the GPS function in your phone as well as the hardware of your phone itself. You can use your phone as a tracking device for yourself or for others to track and find you. The accuracy of the location tracking has also improved nowadays. However, not many people are aware of this amazing function that is embedded in some of the software that we used on a daily basis. So, here are the five effective ways how you can track your friend’s phone.
1. TRACK LOCATION USING WHATSAPP
WhatsApp is probably one of the best instant messaging application available in the market. It is used by most people as a way to send and receive messages to your friends and families. You can also send files and video using WhatsApp to your friends. Read here more if you want to know what other things you can do with WhatsApp. However, you can also use WhatsApp to send your location to your friends or vice-versa. Read here on some the top tips in using WhatsApp. Here are five simple steps how you can track the location of your friends using WhatsApp.
Step 1 Install WhatsApp from the Google Play or Apple Store if you do not have the WhatsApp application yet. Open your WhatsApp and open a conversation box with the friend you want to share the location.
Step 2 Tap the icon + here
Step 3 Tap the location here
Step 4 Tap here to send your location. It will also show your location on the map
Step 5 Your location will then be shared with your friend. Your friend can then use the geo-data that you shared to track and find you.
2. TRACK LOCATION USING GOOGLE
One of the easiest ways to track your phone is by using Google itself. There are many ways how you can use Google. If you are using Android or your friend’s phone is an Android-based phone, you can use the Android Device Manager to help you track the phone’s location. You can visit the Android Device Manager website here. You can also use Google Maps and Google account to track the location of your friends and families. Read more here on how you can track your phone using Google.
3. TRACK LOCATION USING WAZE
Waze is a popular app that people use to get to where they want to be. However, Waze also has the function of adding your friends. Whenever your friends are using Waze, it will automatically tell you where they are, and their location is shown on a map. You can also share your location with them as well. The good thing about Waze, it will track you or your friend on real time. You can also even chat with your friend using Waze. Here are six simple steps on how you can track your friend’s location using Waze.
Step 1 If you have not yet installed Waze, you can download it from Google Play or Apple store. Once installed, open the App.
Step 2 The first menu would be the real-time map menu where you will be shown your location. Swipe left to enter the Waze menu
Step 3 In the menu, tap the icon at the centre here.
Step 4 Your friends that are currently using Waze will appear online here.
Step 5 Tap on your friends that are online.
Step 6 If you plan to meet your friend. Tap at the “Send ETA” so that they will know where you are and when you will arrive at their place.
4. TRACK LOCATION USING IPHONE’S “FIND FRIENDS”
Probably much not aware of this but iPhone iOS comes pre-installed with an app called “Find Friends”. It uses the same technology as the Find iPhone apps where it tracks your iPhone’s location based on your phone’s GPS. Read here more if you want to know how to track your lost iPhone. Using the “Find Friend’s” app, you can find your friend in real-time. The app is also very easy to use. Here are the steps you can use to track the location of your friends using your iPhone.
Step 1 Open your iPhone and tap on the “Find Friends” app. Step 2 Your friend’s location will be shown on a map. However, this only valid with your friends that have an iPhone. They also need to permit their location can be discovered by you. You can also share your location to your friend by sending your location using this app
5. TRACK LOCATION USING FACEBOOK MESSENGER
If you are a Facebook messenger, you probably have noticed some of the notification where your friends are nearby. Or Facebook can also notify where your friend is attending an event near you. This is because Facebook is utilizing the GPS in your phone to sync with your Facebook account. Facebook Messenger also utilizes the same technology so that you can share your location with your friends. Here are the steps on how you can share your location using Facebook Messenger.
Step 1 Before you can share location, you need to enable your location service. Go to your iPhone’s settings and choose the Privacy option
Step 2 In the Privacy settings, find Messenger and tap on it
Step 3 You will be given three choices. It will on “Never” as default. Enable “While Using the App” or “Always” to enable the Location Services
Step 4 Open the conversation chat box with the friend you want to share the location with. Tap “+” below
Step 5 A pop-up will show up. Tap the “Location” here
Step 6 Tap “Send” to share your location Your friends can now see your location. You can also enable the location for a certain time until it expires (Max 1 hour)
So, there you have it. The top 5 effective ways on how you can track your friends using different apps available in the market. Be sure to check our previous article on what to do if you lost your phone. Please leave a comment on whether you have tried some of the apps here to help track your friends.
We have gotten a lot of requests from our visitors asking us to track their phone. It is very unfortunate that we could not help due to the fact that we are not providing that kind of services to track your phone. However as to keep to our tagline and that is to help you learn how to track your phone, we decided to give you the ultimate guide on the steps you need to take once you have that dreaded experience of losing your phone.
We think this guide can be one of the best way for you to have a higher percentage to recover back your lost or stolen phone. This guide is also useful to help you to make certain steps to protect sensitive data or information that you might have in your phone in case it got stolen and falls into the wrong hand.
However, need to put a disclaimer to this guide as this guide is only prepared for people who have smartphones only. You can read on our previous article on how to track non-smartphone here.
So, let’s get to it.
Ok, let’s lay out the scenario here. You just get back from work or eating outside and just lying in your sofa and catching up on some Netflix. Then you are reaching out to your phone in your pocket to check for your email or Facebook, and then you realize that your phone is not there in your pocket.
So, there is probably three possible scenario here… it is either you simply misplaced your phone in your house, you left your phone at work or maybe someone have stolen your phone on the way home during your quick stop at a Starbuck outlet. The last scenario is maybe the scariest one as you come to realize that maybe your precious phone is now on the wrong hand. So, once you realize that your phone is gone, follow this step:-
STEP 1 – CALL YOUR PHONE
First of all, you need to make sure that you have not simply misplaced it in your home. If you in your house, you probably have a landed phone line. Try putting a call to your phone to see whether it rings. Or you can also use your spouse or friends phone to call your phone out.
However, if you have set your phone is silent mode or you have call but you hear nothing not even a vibrate noise… Go to Step 2
STEP 2 – LOCATE YOUR PHONE
For Step 2, we will divide it to two categories – For iPhone Users and For Android Users
For iPhone Users
Step 1 Go to https://www.icloud.com/#find Sign-in using your Apple ID. The same Apple ID you have registered in your lost iPhone
Step 2 If you have more than one Apple devices, drop down the “All Devices” menu and choose the device that you have lost
Step 3 Your iPhone’s location will immediately be shown in a map. However, this will only work if your iPhone is on and connected to the internet.
You can then decide whether to lock it by choosing the “Lost Mode” or “Erase iPhone” to erase all the data in your iPhone if you feel that your iPhone is in the wrong hand.
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a unique identity for every mobile phone that is manufactured all over the world. It consists of a 15 digit number and each phone has a unique 15 digit number. Therefore, if you lost your phone, one of the way to track it is by using the IMEI number. Even if the device changed SIM card, the IMEI can still be used to track your device.
One of the way you can obtain your IMEI numbers is by using your keypad. Just type in *#06# on your keypad. The IMEI numbers of your mobile phone will then appear in your iPhone’s screen.
But what happens if you just lost your iPhone and you did not manage to check your IMEI numbers using these 3 ways? Luckily, Apple have also included your mobile phone’s IMEI at the box packaging of your iPhone. Try looking at the back of the original box packaging and the IMEI numbers are printed there.
So, once you have gotten your phone’s IMEI, you then need to file a police report on your missing phone. Even though this would be a hassle, but the police report is needed for your next step. A picture of your lost phone if any, description of your lost phone such as the brand or manufacturer, the colour of your phone, where did you lost it, the last place you remember having your phone.
Show also other supporting details such as your phone’s IMEI and also the location that your Android Device Manager or Find iPhone app have shown.
STEP 5 – GO TO YOUR CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER
Here is some disclaimer. Not all cell phone service providers can assist you in helping to track your phone. However, some established and reputable one do have that services.
As long as you can show the police report that you have done and also you have your phone’s IMEI number, the cell phone service provider can assist you. The services they can offer includes locating your phone’s location and also blocking the phone usage from their network.
And finally, never ever try to locate your phone by yourself. Let the police do their job. You never know that by going to the place that your phone is located, it is probably in the wrong and that will probably do more harm if you are confronting the thief.
PRE-EMPTIVE MEASURES NEED TO BE TAKEN
Now you have done the steps above, here I am going to list down several pre-emptive measures on how you can avoid losing your smartphones or help you increase the chance of finding back your phone.
RECORD YOUR PHONE’S IMEI
In case that your phone gone missing, the IMEI number of your phone will become very important when it comes to relocating it. Here are some of the ways you can get your phone’s IMEI before you lost it.
1. Find IMEI numbers at your General settings
Another way to find your phone’s IMEI numbers is by finding it at the general settings menu in your iPhone. Here are the steps.
Step 1 Go to Settings
Step 2 Once in the Settings, go to General
Step 3 In the General mode, tap at the ‘About’
Step 4 There will be a list of details and numbers for your iPhone. Scroll down and you will see the IMEI category together with the numbers at the right side.
2. Find IMEI numbers at the back of your iPhone
The quickest way to find your IMEI numbers even without opening your iPhone, is by looking at the back cover of your iPhone. You can easily check the IMEI number printed at the low centre back of your iPhone.
AUTOMATE YOUR SILENT MODE
Sometimes you lost your phone just due to the fact you have misplaced it. And most likely people like to put their phone on a silent mode. Therefore this makes finding your phone a bit more difficult. Probably many people are not aware of this is that you can actually automate your phone’s silent mode. Follow this steps here on how to automate your iPhone’s silent mode
Step 1 Go to iPhone Settings
Step 2 Choose the “Do Not Disturb” mode
Step 3 Enable the “Scheduled” and set the time
PUT YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER OR CONTACT DETAILS
You can increase the chances of getting your phone return back to you by putting your emergency number or contact details in your phone. This emergency number can also be seen by anyone who found your phone even if your phone is locked. Here are the steps how you can set emergency contact number on your iPhone.
Step 1 Go to “Health” app. It is already pre-installed in your iPhone.
Step 2 Choose “Medical ID”
Step 3 Fill in your contact details there
Anybody who find your iPhone will be able to access your emergency contact number even when it is lock. Therefore, the probability that your phone will be return to you is high if the founder know how to get in touch with you.
So, there is our guide on how to find your lost phone. Please visit also our previous article on the 5 tips on how to avoid losing your smartphones. Any other ideas or suggestion that you want to add, feel free to leave a comment in our comment section below.
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