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.

Read here to learn more on the top 3 ways to track your iPhone.


For Android Users

Step 1
For android based users, the first step is go to this site
https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

Login into your Google account. Make sure it is the same Google account you have registered in your Android based smartphones.

Step 2
The Android Device Manager will instantly show the location of your phone. This can only work if the phone is on and connected to the internet

Please read here on the top 3 ways to track your phone using Google.

STEP 3 – FIND YOUR PHONE’S IMEI

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.

Read here from our previous article on how to get your phone’s IMEI number.

STEP 4 – GO TO YOUR NEAREST LOCAL POLICE STATION

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.