Phone lost: locating, locking and the right order

A lost phone is annoying, a lost and unsecured phone is a data protection problem. The good news: both major systems have a location feature built in, and it works if it was switched on beforehand. The order of the next steps is what decides the outcome.

Step 1: locate it before you do anything else

Sign in to your account on another device or on a computer and open the device overview. With Apple this is called Find My, with Google it is Find My Device. There you can see the last known location. If the device is switched off, it shows the last position before it was turned off, and that is often the decisive clue already.

If the phone is nearby, play a sound. This works even when it is set to silent, and it solves a surprising number of cases straight away, because the device is between the sofa cushions or in the car.

Step 2: switch on lost mode

This is the most important step, and it comes before erasing. Lost mode locks the device, shows a message with a call-back number on the lock screen and disables payments. At the same time, location stays active. So you keep the chance of getting the device back and still protect your data.

Step 3: have the SIM blocked

Call your mobile provider and have the SIM card blocked. This prevents costs from calls and, more importantly, the receipt of SMS codes for two-factor sign-ins. Most people forget this point, even though it matters more for security than the value of the device.

Step 4: change passwords

Change the passwords of your most important accounts, above all your main account and your email. If someone gets in there, they can switch off location and reset passwords.

When you should erase

A remote erase is final: afterwards you can no longer locate the device. Hold off as long as there is a realistic chance of finding it again, for example because it is still moving or sitting in a known place. Erase as soon as it is clear that you will not get it back, or if sensitive data is stored on it. Important: the activation lock remains in place even after the erase, so the device stays unusable for strangers, see activation lock.

And what about insurance?

Loss and theft are not covered by every policy, and where they are, often only with conditions such as a police report. We have summarised what the terms typically say in repair or insurance. File a police report in any case, that is a requirement for almost every reimbursement.

Prevention takes two minutes

Check today whether the location feature is active, whether your lock code is not too simple and whether your last backup is up to date. These three things decide how bad the loss really turns out to be. If you need a replacement at short notice, you will find tested devices under smartphones.