How to Find Your Phone

We use our cell phones in nearly all aspects of our lives, from getting the news to keeping in touch with loved ones. Our phones store our personal information and help us navigate through life. They are also a financial investment that many of us want to keep close at hand.

While misplacing your phone can be very stressful, we are here to help. Whether you want to learn how to find a phone's location or you are looking for tools to help you keep track of your phone, this guide has what you need. Read on for a few different tips for how to find your lost phone and some ways to hold onto your phone in the future.

How Do I Find My Phone?

When you need to find your lost phone, there are a few different things you can do. Try one of these methods to help you find whatever kind of phone you have.

Call

The easiest way to find a lost cell phone is to call your phone number. Making it ring can help you find your lost phone, whether you have a smartphone or a flip phone. If you are with someone else, you can ask them to call your number. If you are alone, you can use free sites online to call your phone from a computer or tablet.

Listen for ringing and vibrating to locate your phone. If it is in your house or somewhere in an area close by, you should be able to hear it. If you've lost it somewhere else, calling may reach someone who happened to find your phone. If they answer, you can make a plan with them to get your phone back.

Text

You can also have someone send a text to your phone. If it is close by, you may be able to hear it ding or buzz. Sending a text may also make your screen light up. A glowing screen can be easier to spot if your phone fell in a dark spot like between the car seats or couch cushions. If you're alone, try a free website service that lets you text from your computer.

Not sure where you lost your phone? Try using another phone to send a text with your contact information. Texting may let you communicate with someone who discovered your phone, letting you arrange a safe meeting in a public space to get your phone back.

Use "Alexa, Find My Phone"

You can use your Amazon Echo to find a smartphone you've misplaced around your house. Two of Alexas features are Find My Phone and Cell Phone Finder, which you can enable to help you easily call your missing phone. You can use these features to ask Alexa to call your phone's number and listen for the ringer to sound.

If you have an IFTTT account, you can connect your phone directly with your Alexa account. Once they are connected, ask your Echo to play music on your phone to help you locate your phone.

Contact My Service Provider

Some wireless network providers offer GPS location services. If your provider offers this service, contact their local offices when you misplace your phone and have them track its location for you.

If your service provider can't track phone locations, you can have them cut off service to your phone or lock it. It is important to protect your privacy and personal information when you lose your phone in case it falls into the wrong hands.

Your provider can cut off service to your phone so that no one can run up unwanted charges. Reporting your lost or stolen phone to your carrier also gives you a better chance of getting it back. If someone returns it to a store or tries to use or sell it, the carrier will have a record of your report.

Use Push-Button Tracking

You can also find a missing phone with push-button tracking devices. These devices are small, short-range trackers you can hook onto your keychain or keep in your bag. When you pair them with a smartphone app they use Bluetooth technology to keep track of your phone.

As long as you are within the tracker's Bluetooth range, you can push the button to make your phone start beeping. These devices will make your phone play a sound even if the phone is on mute. By following the sound, you can find where your phone may be hiding.

These handy little trackers can work in reverse as well. If you misplace your keys or bag, you can use your phone to make the tracker beep.

Locate My Phone With a Smartwatch

Do your smartwatch and phone use the same operating system? If so, you may be able to use your watch to find your phone's location.

Smartwatches use Bluetooth to connect with your smartphone. You can use operating system features to play a sound on your missing phone. First, make sure both devices are within range. Then look for features like Find My or Find My Mobile, depending on the type of phone you have.

Report My Phone to the Police

The United States Federal Communications Commission suggests filing a police report if you lose your phone or suspect someone stole it. The police won't launch a formal investigation to find your phone. However, you might get documentation that could lead to your phone's return.

You will likely need a police report if you plan to file a pre-paid smartphone insurance claim. Some phone carriers also need a police report to deactivate an account. People also often return lost phones to police stations and you might get your phone back if you report it missing.

Track My Phone With an App

Cell phone tracker apps can be very helpful if you've lost your phone. Smartphone applications for Android and iOS phones can help you find your phone if you lose it. Since you won't have your phone to access the app, you will need a friend or another phone to help.

Various applications use GPS coordinates to pinpoint the exact location of your phone. However, you will need to have downloaded these apps and set them up before your phone goes missing.

How Can I Find My iPhone?

iPhone users have a couple of options specifically designed for Apple products to help find lost phones.

Use Find My by Apple

If you have an Apple® iPhone, the Find My app is a handy tool for locating lost phones. You will need to locate the app on your iPhone and turn it on to use this feature. Once you have enabled the Find My app, GPS tracking will display your phone's location on a map. You can also play a sound on your phone to help you discover it if it is close by.

Since Apple's Find My iPhone is available on iCloud.com, you can also access it from a computer or tablet. If you have other Apple devices, you can see the Find My map on your:

As an extra benefit, the Find My app will share its location if your phone's battery is dying. This way, you can find it even if it runs out of power.

Use Siri Voice Commands

Siri's voice command capabilities can help you find your phone in two ways.

If your iPhone is locked and you have Siri enabled, try the following:

If you have another device with Siri voice command, you can ask her to locate your phone on that device. She will then open Find My to pinpoint its location. Your phone needs to be within a short distance for this feature to work.

How Can I Find My Android Phone?

Smartphones with Android operating systems have tracking features you can use to locate your phone.

Find My Mobile by Samsung

Samsung smartphone users can use Find My Mobile to locate lost phones. Be sure to enable the Remote Controls and location on your Samsung phone if you want to use this service.

You can find your Samsung phone by logging on to the Find My Mobile website. This site lets you use a map to find your phone's location or lock your phone in case someone has stolen it. You can also use Find My Mobile to wipe the data from your missing phone.

Find My Mobile is only available for Samsung devices using Android 5.0 or earlier.

Find My Mobile by Samsung

You can also use the Google Find My Device service to locate Android devices and accessories.

This service offers a few different features you can use if you lose your phone. Logging into your Google account on a computer lets you pull up the Find My Device map and see your phone's last location.

If you lost your phone at home or in a building, you might need something more specific than the map. In this case, you can send a signal to play a sound on your phone for five minutes, even if it is on mute or vibrate. Just follow the sound to find your phone!

4 Ways to Prevent and Prepare for Losing Your Phone

You should take measures to avoid losing your cell phone in the future. Try the following. four ways to keep better track of your phone:

1. Keep Your Phone in a Designated Place

One way to keep track of your phone better is to always keep it in the same spot. If you always put your phone in the same compartment in your bag or the same pocket of your jeans, you will notice when it isn't there.

The sooner you notice your phone is missing, the better your chance of recovering it. Having a designated place for your phone keeps you organized and lets you easily narrow down where it might be.

2. Enable Location Services

The best way to prepare for misplacing your phone is to enable location services. Whatever your operating system, you can find GPS applications and services to locate your phone.

Enabling location services lets you use things like Find My or a family sharing app. These apps can quickly and easily pinpoint your phone's location if you lose track of it.

3. Use a Strong Passcode

Choosing a strong passcode can help keep your phone protected if you lose it. A passcode will prevent people from easily accessing your private information or wiping the data on your phone if you misplace it.

It is best to use an advanced passcode if you have the option. If you can, change your phone's settings to allow an alphabet-friendly password. A password with both numbers and letters will offer more security than a 4-digit pin.

4. Write Down Your Phone's Serial Number or International Mobile Equipment Identity Number

It is best to prepare for the possibility of losing your phone before it happens. Write down your phone's serial number or International Mobile Equipment Identity number. You can plug these unique codes into a tracking application to help locate your phone.

How to Find My Phone if It Is Off or Dead?

It can be challenging to locate your phone via GPS if your phone is off or its battery is dead. You should always begin by retracing your steps if you can. If you can't find your phone by doing a visual search, you may still be in luck.

Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Device services can send your phone's last recorded location before it went off or died. Having this location can give you a starting place for where to look for your phone.

Find an ecoATM Kiosk Near You

Bring your unwanted phone to one of the over 5,000 kiosks across the country and follow the prompts. 

Find an ecoATM Kiosk Near You

Your cell phone is important to you, even when it's nearing the end of its useful life or you are looking for an upgrade. Consider giving it a second chance by selling or recycling it at your nearest ecoATM kiosk.

Bring your unwanted phone to one of the over 5,000 kiosks across the country and follow the prompts. You could get cash and recycle your phone, leaving you feeling good about keeping e-waste out of our landfills.

Are you interested in learning more about selling and recycling your used phone? Find an ecoATM kiosk near you today!