Find My iPhone: What is it, and how do you use it? - 9to5Mac (2024)

Find My iPhone is part of the Find My application that Apple preloads on iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com.

What is Find My iPhone?

Find My iPhone allows a user to track their lost iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. If you lose your iPhone, you can use the Find My app on another device to see its last known location.

In previous versions of iOS, Find My iPhone and Find My Friends were separate applications. Starting in iOS 13, they were combined into a single app that allows you to locate your devices and check the location of your friends and family.

Find My iPhone has become a way to make iOS devices less attractive to steal. Once Find My is enabled on an iPad, iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch, the device cannot be unlocked without the iCloud password of the original account.

How to enable Find my iPhone

To protect yourself from losing an iPhone, it’s important that you turn on Find My iPhone on your iPhone. You should also turn it on on your iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch as well.

Find My iPhone: What is it, and how do you use it? - 9to5Mac (1)

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Choose Your Account at the top (where it says Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store). Go to Find My.

In the top section, make sure it is enabled. You can also enable “Share My Location” in order to also let your family and friends know where you are at. This feature is handy if you have Family Sharing enabled for checking to see the location of your spouse or children. If you have a HomePod, you will want to enable this feature to be able to make personal requests regarding your data.

How to locate a missing iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGvaaMAwzB8

If you have misplaced your iPhone, it’s easy to track it using the Find My application on another device or on iCloud.com. To get started, open the Find My app, go to the Devices tab, and find the device in the list.

Once you locate the device in the list, you can play a sound, get directions to its locations, Mark as Lost, or even erase it. If the device is offline, it’ll receive commands once it comes back online. You should only erase the device if you don’t expect to be able to recover it.

How to disable Find My iPhone

Disabling Find My iPhone should only be done when selling a device or sending it off to be repaired by Apple. Apple requires the service to be disabled before generating a return code.

To disable Find My iPhone, go to Settings > Choose your account > Find My > Turn Off. To turn it off, you will be forced to authenticate the request using your iCloud password.

Again, just to clarify, the only two times you should disable the service is when you are selling a device or at the request of Apple Support prior to sending a device in for repair.

How to bypass Apple’s activation lock

If an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or iPad is locked with an iCloud account, the only way to unlock is it with the password of the account or by getting in contact with Apple. Apple will only unlock the device if you can provide the original proof of purchase that matches the serial number of the device. Apple’s policy is to protect against device theft.

If you don’t remember the password of the account, you can reset it using the email address tied to the account.

Find Missing AirPods

Find My iPhone: What is it, and how do you use it? - 9to5Mac (2)

The Find My application can also locate AirPods. If you have Find My enabled on your iPhone, it will automatically be enabled on your AirPods as well.

If your AirPods are lost, not in their case, and are somewhere close, you can use the Find My app to locate them. If your AirPods are out of range of your devices, have dead batteries, or are in the case, the Find My app can still help by showing the time and location where they were last connected.

If you can find your AirPods on the map, you can have them play a noise. This feature can be helpful if you lose a single AirPod in the couch or in the bed. If you can’t find your AirPods, you’ll be able to see their last known location. If your AirPods come back online, you will then be able to make them play a sound.

Find My iPhone: What is it, and how do you use it? - 9to5Mac (2024)

FAQs

Find My iPhone: What is it, and how do you use it? - 9to5Mac? ›

What is Find My iPhone? Find My iPhone allows a user to track their lost iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. If you lose your iPhone, you can use the Find My app on another device to see its last known location. In previous versions of iOS, Find My iPhone and Find My Friends were separate applications.

How does Find My iPhone work on Mac? ›

Locate a device in Find My on Mac
  1. In the Find My app on your Mac, click Devices.
  2. In the Devices list, select the device you want to locate. If the device can be located: It appears on the map so you can see where it is. The updated location and timestamp appear below the device's name.

Can someone track my iPhone without me knowing? ›

Yes, a partner, parent, or even employer can gain remote, real-time access to your iPhone using spying software. Spyware can track your GPS location, record your keypad inputs such as credit card numbers and passwords, and monitor your calls, texts, app usage, emails, voice, and other personal data.

How do I use Find My iPhone on computer? ›

You can use Find Devices on iCloud.com to find the approximate location of your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats product if Find My is set up on the device and the device is online. To sign in to Find Devices, go to icloud.com/find.

How do I connect my iPhone to my Mac? ›

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable. Open the Photos app on your computer. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.

How far does Find My iPhone work? ›

Find my iPhone works by using GPS, nearby WiFi, and close cell towers. The accuracy of it pinpoints the location of the device within 20 meters.

Can someone see me using Find My iPhone? ›

People who you've previously shared your location with can still view your location. If you want to stop sharing your location, reinstall the Find My app and follow the steps to stop sharing your location.

What is the disadvantage of Find My iPhone? ›

Battery Draining Potential: While this app does offer many benefits and has the notification about energy consumption, there is also a downside – increased battery drain due to constant GPS tracking which some users report they have experienced since installing Find My iPhone App onto their devices.

Should Find My iPhone be on or off? ›

Find My can help you recover a lost or stolen device. If you're preparing to sell, trade-in, or give away your device, make sure that you turn off Find My.

How to tell if someone is accessing your iPhone? ›

How can I tell if someone is accessing my iOS device remotely? Look out for signs, such as unusual battery drain, overheating, unexpected data usage, unfamiliar apps, settings changes, and unusual behavior on your device. These could indicate unauthorized access.

Does iPhone tell you when someone checks your location? ›

iPhone's location services allow sharing but prioritize user privacy. Users can check who has access to their location without alerting them.

How do I know if my iPhone is linked to another device? ›

Use your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch to find where you're signed in
  1. Tap Settings > [your name], then scroll down.
  2. Tap any device name to view that device's information, such as the device model, serial number, OS version, and whether it's a trusted device that can be used to receive Apple ID verification codes.
Apr 22, 2024

How do I use Find My Wifes iPhone to Find My iPhone? ›

Find your Apple device or AirTag
  1. Open Find My.
  2. Choose Devices or Items.
  3. Select your lost device or item to find it on a map. If you belong to a Family Sharing group, you can also find your family members' devices or shared items. Choose Directions to open its location in Maps. If you're close, tap Play Sound.
May 15, 2024

How do I find a lost iPhone without Finding My iPhone? ›

Contact Your Mobile Phone Carrier. Your mobile phone carrier might offer location tracking services for lost or stolen devices. You should contact your mobile phone carrier's customer service department. They might require proof of ownership of your iPhone.

How accurate is Find My Device on my MacBook? ›

How Accurate Is the 'Find My' Feature? 'Find My' accuracy largely depends on the device's hardware, signal strength, and environmental conditions. In ideal situations, such as open outdoor areas with clear visibility to GPS satellites, 'Find My' can provide highly accurate location data, often within a few meters.

Why can't my Mac Find My iPhone? ›

Why won't my Mac recognize my iPhone. There are a number of possible reasons why your Mac doesn't recognize iPhone. It could be that the cable you're using is faulty or that there is a software glitch preventing the iPhone from showing up.

How do I turn Find My iPhone on from another device? ›

To set up Find My on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch, sign in to the device with your Apple ID, turn on location sharing, and turn on Find My [device].

How do I share my MacBook location with Find My iPhone? ›

Open 'Find My' App: On your iPhone or iPad, open the 'Find My' app. Select Your MacBook: Under the "My Devices" tab, you'll see your MacBook. Tap on it to view its current location. Share Location: In the top right corner of the screen, you'll find the share icon (an arrow pointing upward).

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