How to find your phone if it is lost or stolen

preventive measures

If your smartphone is still with you, then there are several things that you should do to make your life easier when it's "time X". Consider the necessary actions for Android-smartphone and iPhone owners.

Android-smartphone

Many manufacturers Android smartphone equipped with their own tools for searching and remote device management, but for several years as there is a business decision by Google - «Find device".

This function is enabled in the system settings, see "Security", where you need to allow remote management.

In addition, turn on Location Reporting in Settings. Without it, find a lost device will not work.

Do not forget to also include a PIN screen lock method to protect your personal data. Otherwise, mail, messages, photos, social network and a lot of other information that is not intended for prying eyes, can be read like an open book.

If your phone finds a good person, then knowing your contacts, it will be able to return it to you. To this end, the security settings you want to specify a message with contact information that is displayed on the lock screen in case of loss.

iPhone

Apple-device search function appeared much earlier. It is now in any iPhone and offers a broader search and lock.

usually "Find My iPhone"Inserted immediately upon activation and initial setting up the device, but it can be done later in the settings iCloud (« Settings »→ user name → iCloud). Do not forget to include a definition of the latter geopozitsii when the battery is low - so you will have a chance to find a smartphone if it is completely discharged.

If you have iPhone 5s or later, be sure to use Touch ID or Face ID on the iPhone X. But the owners of older devices it is recommended to include a password lock screen, as many often neglect this. If you do not want to bother every time you unlock iPhone, choose a simple password of four digits, let there be at least some protection.

On the iPhone, starting with iOS 8 feature is available "medical records", useful for emergency cases. The application "Health", you can specify important information, including contacts, which will be available directly from the lock screen when pressing the SOS button. Message number for connection is also displayed on a locked iPhone. If you lost your smartphone gets into the hands of an honest man, he will be able to contact you.

How to find the phone, lock, or erase data

Usually, when the smartphone is lost, we have to go through these three stages, but we want to limit ourselves to you first. If you have pre-activated the "Find device" on Android or "Find the iPhone", then your smartphone should search be successful. Especially in hot pursuit when loss discovered immediately.

Android-smartphone can be found by hours on Android Wear, mobile apps or any browser.

On the iPhone, the search can go armed with the application "Find My iPhone"Or the web version iCloud.

Both services allow you to not only find, but also remotely lock the phone or erase all the data on it, closing access to applications, contacts, payment information, and so on. This is the last thread that connects you with the lost gadget.

For starters, you can try to look smart for the audio signal by using the function "Prozvonit" for Android-devices or "Play sound" for the iPhone. But this makes sense only if you know the approximate place of loss. Otherwise, only spend wasting precious battery power.

If the search does not come to fruition, or crowned, but not for you, but for someone else - it is necessary to block Android-smartphone or iPhone into loss mode. This will close access to your information and to inform their contacts. Perhaps your phone into the hands of the man who at this moment is just looking for a way to contact you.

The most extreme measure, which can go - a complete cleaning of your smartphone. To it necessary to resort to protect your data if your smartphone to find still failed. This can be done remotely, even if the gadget is completely discharged - the changes will take effect the next time.

After that, the script for iOS and Android differ slightly. In both cases, you will lose access to the remote control smartphone, but if Android-gadget then you can easy to use, the iPhone no somzhet include no data to enter your Apple ID because of the activation lock iCloud.

How to protect your data without access to the smartphone

If you do not have time to set up remote control of your smartphone and protect it with a password or Touch ID, you will need as soon as possible to turn off e-mail, social networks and other accounts.

Facebook, «VKontakte», Twitter, Gmail and other services allow you to view active sessions open on your other devices, and remotely razloginivat them. For example, in Google-account settings You can view all the devices that you have recently used, and remove any of them. The same leads to Facebook, «In contact with"And other social networks. These options are usually found under the "Security".

What else

Of course, you can always try to call on your phone, but if it got into the wrong hands, not the fact that you will answer, or you can do to get through. If you manage to contact the person who found your phone, ask him to return by offering a reward.

If, however, you probably know that the phone is stolen, you must contact the local police and write a statement about the theft to the chief of the district department. Be sure to include the serial number and IMEI smartphone, which can be found on the box or receipt. If there is proof of purchase, do not forget to add them.

Hopefully, these tips will help you find your gadgets in case of loss. But better, of course, do not lose them! If you have a life-threatening event such unpleasant situation, tell us about your experience in the comments.