Emergency order
- Use Apple Find My or Google's Find Hub to locate and lock the device.
- Call the mobile carrier to suspend the SIM/eSIM and protect the number.
- Secure email, banking, payment and password-manager accounts.
- Report the theft and preserve the device identifiers and evidence.
- Erase remotely only when recovery is unlikely and sensitive-data risk is higher.
First 10 minutes: locate and lock
Use a trusted device or private browser session. For Android, open Google's Find Hub; for iPhone, use Find My or iCloud.com/find. Mark the device lost or secure it, show a safe contact message, and take screenshots of its last known location. Do not personally confront someone at the location; share useful evidence with police.
Next 20 minutes: protect the number and money
- Call the carrier and suspend the SIM or eSIM. Ask for a carrier PIN and number-transfer protection.
- Contact banks and payment providers if the phone could access them.
- Review recent transactions and account-change alerts.
- Remove or suspend cards from mobile-wallet services where appropriate.
Next 30 minutes: secure the accounts that unlock other accounts
| Account | Why it matters | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Primary email | Controls many password resets | Change password, review sessions and recovery methods |
| Apple or Google account | Controls device and cloud data | Review trusted devices without removing theft protection prematurely |
| Password manager | May expose many credentials | Lock account, rotate master credentials if needed |
| Messaging/social accounts | Can be used to impersonate you | Sign out lost device and warn contacts if compromised |
Do not remove an iPhone from Find My too early
Apple warns that removing the device from Find My removes Activation Lock, making it easier for a thief to unlock and resell it. Keep it attached while a theft/loss claim or recovery attempt is active.
When should you erase the phone?
Remote erasure can protect data, but it may reduce your ability to locate or recover the phone. Try locating and locking first. If recovery appears unlikely and the phone contains sensitive data, follow the platform's official erase instructions. Keep the device associated with your account where the platform advises it.
Report and recovery checklist
- File a police report where appropriate and include the device serial number or IMEI.
- Contact insurance or theft-and-loss coverage providers before removing the device from your account.
- Tell important contacts if messages may be sent in your name.
- Watch for phishing messages claiming the device was found.
- After replacement, restore only from a trusted backup and set up stronger theft protection.
Prepare before a theft happens
- Enable Find My or Find Hub and test that it can see the device.
- Use a strong screen passcode and hide sensitive lock-screen notifications.
- Enable Android theft protection or Apple Stolen Device Protection where available.
- Keep backup codes and important device identifiers somewhere separate.
- Back up photos and important data regularly.