If you misplace your iPhone, the best solution is to check out its location through your iCloud account. Sign in to your iCloud account and locate your device. This saves you from searching your device from place to place. As soon as you locate your device, lock it so that nobody can use it.
Apple has introduced a free service, Find My iPhone, which can be used to get your stolen iPhone back. This article discusses how does ‘Find My iPhone’ app function.
Find My iPhone
The Mobile.Me service of Apple has ‘Find My iPhone’ app too. This app has been upgraded.
It is now incorporated in the iCloud account. It can track the Mac computers too. The following image shows the map for tracking the location of the iPhone.
How To Enable ‘Find My iPhone’ app?
1. Sign into your iCloud account. You must enable it on the device you use. To sign up, go to ‘iCloud’ in ‘Settings’. In case your account is already set up, make sure you enable ‘Find My iPhone’.
2. You must enable the location service. Go to Settings > Location Services > On.
3. Search for ‘Find My iPhone’ in the list on the screen. Enable it.
To enable ‘Find My iPhone’ app on Mac, install the latest iCloud, iTunes and OSX specific updates.
A control panel icon of iCloud will appear on the preferences screen.
Actions To Be Taken When Your Phone Is Stolen
Download ‘Find My iPhone’ from app store.
Open it from any device supported by iOS or sign into icloud.com.
The registered devices will be displayed in a list. It will now start locating the phone. Once it is located, click the device.
As soon as you click the device, a map will be displayed that shows its location.
The Blue ‘i’ will display a list of actions to be taken. It gives you three choices:
Send Message or Play Sound: It will send a ‘lost/stolen’ message and play sound as an alarm even if your phone is on silent mode.
Remote Wipe: It wipes off your data from the phone. You must use this option very carefully. This option does not allow you to track, message or lock your device.
Remote Lock: This sets a locked mode on the device. You have to select a code of 4 digits. It should be easy to remember.
The first step is to lock your device so that no calls can be made from it. Though your phone can be reformatted by anyone but your data cannot be accessed and no calls can be made.
The next step is to locate your device by using a GPS signal. You must do it very carefully and call the police when you are confirmed with its location.
Draft a message with the contact information and a reward offer and send it.
In case you feel that your personal information on the device can be accessed and there is no possibility of getting your device back, you must the ‘remote wipe’ option that will wipe off your data from the device.
Lastly, you must call the mobile provider. Get your SIM locked. This will not allow anyone to make calls from your device. You must file a complaint with the police for your stolen phone. Make sure your phone is insured. You may require insurance in such cases.
What Can Android Users Do?
Such features are available on other OS too. Try out Prey. It is a service that can take snaps of the person that has taken your phone by using front camera or laptop camera. This feature is not available on ‘Find My iPhone’.
‘Find My iPhone’ app is free. Have you ever used this app to get your stolen phone or computer back? Share with us in comments.
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