What to do to protect yourself if your phone is lost or stolen

Step 1: Try to locate your phone.

Most smartphone users have the option to enable location tracking services on their devices. Log into your account using another device like a personal laptop to access your operating system’s “Find My” phone or device program. You should be able to pull up the missing device in your list of devices as long as the Find My feature is turned on. The location that you can view may not be perfectly accurate, as its location is only approximate, but it may help locate a lost device. If your device can’t be found, you can see its last location here.

Step 2: Send your phone a notification or play a sound.

Some operating systems allow users to send a notification to a misplaced device or remotely command the device to play a sound. If you think your phone is merely lost someplace in your home or immediate vicinity, try playing a sound on your phone. If your operating system offers this option, it will be accessible in your user account settings or via the “Find My” device service.
You can also report your phone lost and choose to send it phone a notification. Sending your phone, a notification that includes your contact info and a message that it’s been lost can be helpful if someone has found your phone and is trying to return it.

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Step 3: Remotely lock your device.

If your phone is not nearby or you suspect it has been stolen, you should remotely secure your device. Choosing to lock your phone remotely will secure it with your PIN number, a pattern, or a password. In this step, you can also choose to display a message on the phone screen with your contact info (as mentioned above). Using your OS system’s “Find My” service or user account settings, locate your missing phone on your list of devices. You should see options titled something like “Mark as Lost” or “Lost Mode.” Select to turn this option on.

Step 4: Report your lost or stolen phone to the police.

Contact local law enforcement and inform them about your missing device. Often, they’ll ask for your phone’s serial number. If you don’t have your serial number on hand, you can find it by logging into your operating system user account.

Step 5: File an insurance claim.

If you have insurance on your mobile device, you can file a theft and loss claim to get a replacement device.

Step 6: Erase your phone.

If you are unable to recover your missing cell phone, the next step is to remotely erase your data. Erasing your phone is a last case scenario—if you’re positive that your phone has been stolen or permanently lost, erasing the device will keep your information and data secure. Choosing to remotely erase your device will permanently delete all the data store on your phone and will no longer allow “Find My” location tracking technology to function. From the “Find My” screen, you can select a device and choose to erase it remotely. If you’re filing a theft and loss claim, be sure not to erase your phone’s data until your insurance claim has been approved.

Step 7: Get in touch with your wireless carrier.

Contact your wireless carrier to let them know that your phone has been lost or stolen. Your wireless carrier should be able to disable incoming and outgoing calls, text, and data use until your cellular plan is transferred to a new device. Depending on your plan, your phone may also be covered by insurance by your wireless carrier. If this is the case, file an insurance claim with your wireless carrier as well.