How To Lock iPhone Remotely When It’s Been Lost or Stolen

That sinking feeling when you reach for your iPhone and it’s not there – we’ve all experienced it. Whether your device has been misplaced or taken by someone else, those first moments of panic can be overwhelming.

But don’t worry – Apple has built powerful security features into your iPhone that can help you:

• Quickly determine if your phone is truly lost or stolen.
• Remotely lock it to protect your personal data.
• Track its location to potentially recover it.
• Prevent thieves from accessing your digital life.

This comprehensive guide walks you through exactly what to do when your iPhone goes missing, from immediate steps to take in the first minutes to longer-term security measures if recovery isn’t possible.

We’ll help you protect what matters most – your personal information – even if your device remains missing.

What Could Thieves Do with Your Phone?

iPhone security is excellent and there is very little thieves can do with one if it has a strong passcode set. Here are some of the things they may try to do with a stolen device.

• Sell it: They’ll likely struggle to sell a locked iPhone for its full value but may try to sell it for parts or deceive unsuspecting buyers.
• Hack it: If they succeed in hacking your phone, they could access your personal data to commit fraud, such as applying for credit cards or stealing from your bank accounts.
• Disable recovery: On older iPhone models with SIM cards, removing the SIM can hinder your recovery efforts, making it much harder to get your phone back.

What to Do If Your iPhone Is Lost or Stolen

Even though iPhone thieves may have a hard time accessing your phone, it’s still worth taking steps to find and lock it to ensure your data can’t be compromised.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if you think your iPhone has been stolen or lost.

Step One: Don’t panic

Having your phone stolen can be frightening. But it’s important to keep a clear head. It sounds obvious, but the first thing to do is check that your iPhone is definitely missing.

If your phone has been stolen, follow these steps calmly but swiftly.

Step Two: Use Find My iPhone

Find My iPhone allows you to locate your lost device, lock it, and erase it. To use it you need to have the app enabled on your iPhone—we’ll explain how to switch this on later in the article.

There are two ways to use Find My iPhone:

1. Visit https://www.icloud.com/find on a computer. You’ll be asked to enter your Apple ID password.
2. Use the Find My app on another Apple device

You’ll then be taken to a map screen showing the location of devices linked to your account.

Fig 1. Find My iPhone on an Apple device.

Here’s how it looks on a web browser:

Fig 2. Find My iPhone on a web browser.

If you have the latest version of iOS, then ‌Find My‌ will still work when your iPhone:

• Is powered off
• Has no Wi-Fi connection
• Has been erased

If your device runs out of battery, ‌Find My‌ ‌iPhone‌ will show its last known location for 24 hours.

Step Three: Lock your iPhone

Turning on Lost Mode allows you to remotely lock your stolen iPhone. It also disables all apps and features, including Apple Pay, and conserves battery life.

It’s worth noting that if your iPhone has been stolen and has a SIM card, the thief can stop you from enabling Lost Mode by removing the SIM and disconnecting from WiFi. However, it’s still worth doing just in case they don’t know this.

Lost Mode can be accessed via the Find My app on an iPhone/iPad or via a browser on a computer. Here’s how to switch it on:

1. Log in to Find My iPhone as described above.
2. If you are accessing it via a web browser, click All Devices and select the stolen iPhone from the list. If you are using the iOS app, tap Devices and select the missing phone.

Fig 3. Locating a lost device using Find My.

1. You will be presented with three choices: Play a Sound, Enter Lost Mode, or Erase iPhone. Choose Lost Mode if using a web browser. If you are using the iOS app, tap Activate next to “Mark as Lost”, then tap Continue.

Fig 4. Available options in Find My.

1. Enter a phone number that you want to appear on the phone’s lock screen. This is so you can be notified should your iPhone be found. Tap Next to continue.
2. Add a message that you want to appear on the locked screen. You will be presented with a default message which you can accept if you want to. Next tap Activate. Your stolen iPhone is now remotely locked. The person who finds your iPhone may also be given the option to call the displayed number using your lost iPhone.
3. If you get your iPhone back, to turn off Lost Mode and unlock your phone, simply enter your passcode on the device.

Step Four: Report to the police

Contact the police and tell them that your iPhone has been stolen. There are two reasons for this. First, if you have Find My activated then it may help them to trace the criminals.

Second, they will likely give you a crime reference number which you can use to make an insurance claim.

Step Five: Make an insurance claim

If you have reported your device stolen and you have insurance, now is a good time to make a claim. Contact your insurer and give them the crime reference number provided by the police.

If you have Theft and Loss cover under AppleCare+ then you can also make a claim. Make sure that you do not remove the stolen iPhone from your list of trusted devices before doing this or you won’t be able to claim.

Fig 5. AppleCare+ support page.

Step Six: Disable your carrier account

If your iPhone has a mobile data connection, you can report your stolen device to your carrier.

They will disable the account which will stop the device from being used for calls, texts, or data. Some mobile network companies have tools on their websites that allow users to block or suspend services to stolen devices.

Step Seven: Remove from your list of trusted devices

If thieves have your phone and can hack into it, they may be able to use it to receive two-factor authentication codes.

This will put your apps and personal data at risk. Removing a stolen iPhone from your list of trusted devices will stop it from being used in this way.

Here’s how to do this:

1. Log into your Apple Account management page
2. Click the icon to the right of Account Security

Fig 6. Apple Account Sign-In and Security options.

1. This will bring up your list of trusted devices. Scroll down and click on the stolen device.

Fig 7. Apple Account Security options.

1. Scroll down and select Remove from Account, and click Remove.

Fig 8. Removing an iPhone from an Apple Account.

Step Eight: Erase your data

If there is no chance of recovering your phone then it may be a good idea to erase your device. This will delete all data on the missing iPhone and stop people from accessing your personal data or private apps.

This only works if your iPhone is turned on and has a cellular or Wi-Fi internet connection. If it doesn’t, then the request to erase all data will be queued until it is turned on and gets a connection.

Here’s how to erase your stolen iPhone:

1. Use the Find My app and tap your device, tap Erase This Device, then tap Continue. You’ll be asked if you want to display a phone number and message via the lock screen so you can get your device back should someone find it.
2. Tap Erase again, enter your Apple ID Password, and then tap Erase one more time.
3. You can cancel an erase device request if your iPhone is switched off or has not had an internet connection since you requested to erase it. Simply select your device in the Find My app, tap the name of the device, choose Cancel Erase and then enter your Apple ID and Password.

Fig 9. Erasing an iPhone via the Find My app.

Taking Precautions: Set Up Your iPhone for Recovery

No one wants or expects their iPhone to be stolen. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to give yourself the best chance of getting your device back and protecting your personal data, should the worst happen.

Enable Find My

As you have already seen, the Find My app is a critical element when it comes to finding, protecting, and recovering a lost or stolen iPhone.

If it’s not activated, you won’t be able to do many of the solutions listed in this guide, like remotely locking your iPhone.

Find My should be automatically enabled when you first set up your device, but it’s worth checking just in case.

Here’s how to switch it on:

1. Go to the Settings app and tap your name
2. Tap Find My

Fig 10. The Find My option in Settings on iPhone.

1. Tap Find My iPhone
2. Make sure “Find My iPhone” is switched on. It’s also worth having “Find My Network” and “Send Last Location” enabled as these will help you find your device when it is switched off.

Fig 11. Enabling Find My iPhone.

Set up a strong passcode

Using a strong unlock passcode for your iPhone is the best way to keep your data protected if your device is stolen. Your passcode should be unique and at least 6 characters in length.

Avoid using guessable passcodes such as “123456” or dates that are important to you, as these are what a thief will likely try first.

You can set up a passcode or change your current one to make it more secure by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.

Fig 12. Setting a strong passcode on iPhone.

Enable two-factor authentication

Nowadays, all Apple accounts should have two-factor authentication enabled by default.

However, if this isn’t set up or has been disabled, then it’s imperative to switch it on if you want to protect your iPhone and your data stored in iCloud.

You can do this by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security and then check that Two-Factor Authentication is on.

Fig 13. Two-Factor Authentication setting on iPhone.

Turn on separation alerts

Newer iPhones feature a setting that alerts you when you leave your iPhone behind. This helps you to avoid losing it in the first place.

Here’s how to switch this on:

1. Open the Find My app.
2. Tap your device.
3. Scroll down to Notifications.
4. Tap Notify When Left Behind.
5. Toggle the button so that it is switched on.

Fig 14. Notify When Left Behind setting on iPhone.

Beware of phishing and hackers

It’s also important to be aware of phishing scams. This won’t necessarily stop your device from being stolen, but it may help you avoid it being hacked and your personal data being stolen.

Be wary of suspicious messages that you weren’t expecting asking you to click on a link. These may appear as text messages from delivery couriers or emails from your bank.

Never click on the link if you are suspicious. Instead, contact the company that the message claims to be from and ask if they sent it.

Another great way to keep your iPhone safe from hackers is to download Certo Mobile Security from the App Store.

This free app is simple to use and helps protect you from security vulnerabilities, suspicious WiFi networks, and other threats that could compromise your data.

Get started with Certo Mobile Security in three easy steps:

1. Download Certo Mobile Security from the App Store.
2. Run a complete security health check.
3. Follow the personalized security recommendations to secure your device.

Fig 15. Certo Mobile Security for iPhone.

Key Takeaways

Experiencing a lost or stolen iPhone can be distressing, but taking the right steps can help protect your personal data and increase the chances of recovering your device.

Implementing precautionary measures and knowing the proper actions to take when your iPhone is missing are essential in maintaining your security and peace of mind.

Now, let’s review the key takeaways for handling such a situation:

1. If your iPhone is stolen, it’s likely that most thieves won’t be able to access any data from your device unless they know your passcode.
2. However, it’s still worth taking action to find and lock your iPhone to ensure no personal data is exposed.
3. The best way to do this is to turn on Lost Mode using the Find My app or by visiting: https://www.icloud.com/find/
4. If your iPhone is lost or stolen, do not attempt to recover it from thieves; report the theft to the police.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I lock my iPhone if it’s lost or stolen?

To lock your lost or stolen iPhone, use the Find My iPhone feature to enable Lost Mode. Lost Mode will lock your device and display a contact number and message on the screen.

You can access Lost Mode via the Find My app on another Apple device or by visiting https://www.icloud.com/find on a computer and signing in with your Apple ID.

Can a stolen iPhone be used if locked?

A stolen iPhone that is locked using Lost Mode or has a strong passcode becomes difficult for thieves to use.

While it may still be sold for parts, accessing the data or fully utilizing the device becomes nearly impossible without the correct passcode. This security feature helps protect your personal information and prevents unauthorized use of the phone.

Can someone unlock my stolen iPhone?

Unlocking a stolen iPhone can be extremely challenging for someone without the correct passcode or biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID).

iPhones have robust security features in place to protect your personal data. However, it is still crucial to enable a strong passcode, use Lost Mode, and follow other safety measures to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to your stolen device.