How to find a lost iPhone? My iPhone was stolen, what should I do? How to block it, find it via iCloud and IMEI. How to block an iPhone from a distance.

Every person knows that if you lose a bank card, you should call the bank and leave a request to block the card to avoid loss Money that are on it. Once the card is blocked, it turns into a useless pretty plastic picture. Almost the same can be done with an iPhone if it was lost or stolen. To lock a device, you use iCloud and its Find My iPhone resource.

So, let's try to understand what we should do if the smartphone was stolen or you lost it.

Preparing an iPhone smartphone

Your iPhone was stolen and you don't know how to block it? In this case, we hope that you are well versed in the functionality of your own smartphone. Therefore, first, we will try to decide how to prepare the device. The creator of Apple made sure that the user could find and recover his loss. But for this we need to initially prepare the iPhone. In order for us to be able to block a gadget, we will need to have constant remote access to it.

Access should be configured the first time you turn it on. To do this, you need to go to the settings of your smartphone, then go to iCloud and enter your Apple ID. If you do not have an account, you must register it in the same window. Next, enter the data with which we registered in the authorization window. From this moment on, you receive a key to all services of the company that created Apple.

Attention!

You can also register an Apple ID account using a computer for this purpose. You will need to go to the official Apple website and then fill out the required form. After turning on for the first time, you must enter registration data.

The next step is to select “Find iPhone” and check the box (it should light up green). Now you need to activate the “Last geolocation” checkbox. This is necessary so that you can quickly determine where the gadget is at one time or another. In principle, the smartphone is completely ready so that if it is lost, it will be quickly found and, accordingly, returned to the owner.

iPhone smartphone lock

How can you block it if your iPhone is stolen? To do this, you need to use another iOS gadget in which your Apple ID data is entered. Install the Find My iPhone app. This device will become a tool in helping to block a smartphone and find it. The application has a map that will help you locate your phone. If the dot marking the device glows green, it means it is online.

Attention!

Remember, you are prohibited from calling your own number if your phone is stolen or you have lost it. Otherwise, an attacker can simply disable the device, and this, in turn, will result in the loss of remote access.

How, after all, can you block your iPhone remotely? Now let's move on to the main issue - blocking the phone remotely. First, let's activate the lost mode in the application. Next, a message will appear that you will need to enter in the required field. We can enter a specific appeal phrase, for example, “This phone is lost - contact the address such and such” or “Please, if you found my phone, call the number XXX-XX-XX.”

You understand that if you lost mobile device, and even this, they may return it to you according to the data you provided, but they may not return it. If you absolutely know that your smartphone has been stolen, you can leave personal information (contacts) in a message and ask to return it for a certain monetary reward. An important aspect is that a locked device will require you to enter a password. It will only work when the password is entered correctly.

Attention!

What is a password? This is a four digit combination. It is advisable not to use easy combinations. If you have a gadget with a fingerprint scanner, then it can only be unlocked by your touch. The phone will not respond to another person's fingerprints.

Using iCloud, you can easily lock your iPhone. A third party will only be able to read your message. Even if the gadget was not connected to the Internet at the time of loss or theft, it will be blocked as soon as someone tries to connect it. Also, you will have the opportunity to determine its location. Provided that the smartphone is somewhere nearby, you have the opportunity to activate sound signal.

Blocking a smartphone via browser

Even if you don’t have another gadget that runs on iOS at hand, you can always block it using a computer that is connected to the Internet. Just go to iCloud and enter your Apple ID. All that remains is to activate the lost mode. On the map that opens here, you can see the current or last location where the iPhone was. On the site, you get all the same features as in the Find My iPhone app.

What to do if time is running out and no one is going to return the gadget? And if they are still on it important files, videos, photos and so on? Proceed as follows - temporarily remove the lock and erase the information remotely. But you will no longer be able to track the location of the phone.

Attention!

There is no need to delete the gadget from your account after the data has been remotely erased. Such an action will lead to the removal of the lock (unlocking the smartphone). In this case, the person who is currently holding the device will be able to reactivate it and simply continue to use it.

Remember that the moment the Find My iPhone function is activated on your smartphone, it will be locked. What does this mean? If the person who owns your gadget at this moment ignores the message received from you asking for a return and tries to reinstall it or reflash it in order to activate it with their Apple ID, they will not succeed. According to the developers, it is almost impossible to bypass the blocking. We recommend turning on Find My iPhone as soon as you purchase your device.

We must not forget that this function is only available via the Internet, so make sure that the iPhone is connected to the network. This must be taken care of in advance. The described function makes it possible to quickly find lost smartphones, but it would not be superfluous to contact the police.

Attention!

If an attacker stole a device on which the Find My iPhone function is not activated, contacting the police with a statement will be a chance to return the smartphone. But, of course, provided that the police accept your statement.

Articles and Lifehacks

Is it possible to somehow protect our personal information if it is stolen from us? iOS smartphone, or have we lost it? This article will tell you how to block a stolen iPhone so that unauthorized persons cannot use our data.

Standard Remote Lockout Procedure

Today, iOS device owners are offered such a useful feature as Find My iPhone. It will help not only in protecting, but also in restoring personal information.

1. You can launch the search program from another iOS devices, or from icloud.com/find.
2. Once the location of the mobile device on the map is detected, we can delete all information from it. However, we should keep in mind that after this we will no longer be able to track the geoposition of the smartphone.
3. If our device goes missing, it is recommended to immediately turn on Lost Mode (with Find My iPhone activated and Internet access) and track it.
4. After this we will be able to block the smartphone. Now anyone who tries to use it will see a lock screen and a prompt to enter a password.
5. In case of theft, you also need to write a statement to law enforcement agencies, indicating serial number smartphone (you can find it on original packaging iPhone) and attaching the purchase receipt.
6. If we cannot find the packaging, it is recommended to look at the serial number on the page supportprofile.apple.com (provided, however, that we have registered the device using an Apple ID).

But how to block a device that is offline, turned off, or discharged? This can be done provided that it is turned on again and it appears on the network.

We put the device into lost mode remotely, after which we erase information from it or block it. As soon as the smartphone is turned on again and connected to the network, all the changes we made will take effect.

To deactivate Lost Mode, you must use the Find My iPhone program. You can also turn it off on iCloud.com.

If Find My iPhone is turned off

Unfortunately, in this case we will no longer be able to use this service. However, we still have a chance to protect our personal information.

• The first step is to change all your passwords, starting with your Apple ID password (this will prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to iTunes and iCloud), and continuing to change passwords for social networks, e-mail, online banking, electronic wallets and so on.
• In conclusion, we note that it would be a good idea to report the theft of the device to your operator, and also be sure to write a statement to law enforcement agencies.
• In this case, you must attach your receipt, a copy of your passport and indicate the iPhone serial number (you can find it on the packaging).
• If we have lost the packaging, go to supportprofile.apple.com and look at the serial number in our profile. True, this will only make sense if we registered the smartphone using Apple ID.

The phone stores a lot of information about us, our friends, credit card information, passwords for important services. If a gadget is stolen or lost, immediate action is required to block it. This is necessary to protect yourself from fraud and other illegal actions by third parties.

If the device falls into the hands of criminals, the following losses are possible:

• use of money in the account;
• appearance of debt;
• problems with the operator.

Don't give up trying to return your phone. Criminals may try to extort money from your relatives, friends, or threaten them. If your gadget is lost or stolen, do not be lazy to inform your loved ones about it and warn about possible fraud. Attackers can bypass the smartphone's protection, find incriminating evidence, and then threaten the owner of the device.

Note!

Gadgets are associated with credit cards, which makes it possible for robbers to use them to pay for expensive goods or transfer money to their own bank account.

If it is stolen or lost, there is no need to panic as the problem can be resolved. Before blocking your phone, you should try to come to an agreement by sending an SMS to your number asking to return the device for a fee. If a respectable citizen has the gadget, there is a chance that the device will be returned to you without any consequences. If there is no response to SMS, or if the smartphone is already turned off, you should use the services of the company that developed the software for the gadget, or immediately contact the operator.

How to prepare your device in advance?

Sometimes a lack of response to an SMS means that no one has found the phone; it may be under a bench or in the bushes. In this case, a detection system can help GPS locations. To find a device using it, you need to install the software before the incident.

The “find iPhone” option works on almost all iPhones. But it must be pre-configured, it requires an Internet connection and geolocation (to track location).

Note!

This function should be set up immediately after purchasing an iPhone - security should be ensured in advance, and not when the device has already been stolen or lost.

You can enable the “Find iPhone” option through the iCloud settings - here you need to activate the “Find iPhone” and “Last location” checkboxes. If after this the gadget is lost or stolen, you can quickly block it. The main thing is that the iPhone is connected to the Internet at this time, so you need to take care of the appropriate tariff plan.

At the same time, activation lock is turned on, preventing the gadget from being reactivated after flashing, since this is precisely the operation that attackers rely on. Even if the thief does not return the device, he will not be able to use it. You must enter your personal password and Apple ID, after which:

• deactivate the Find My iPhone function;
• clear the database;
• reactivate the device and start using it.

This software reliably protects the device when it gets into the hands of experienced attackers, and will also help you return the gadget. If the owner wipes the database remotely, the lock will prevent reactivation without specific permission. To perform this operation, you need not only to neutralize the function, but also to know the password and Apple ID. The password must be unique and strong so that no one can recognize it.

Blocking a stolen iPhone

Modern smartphones provide owners with the opportunity remote control And high level security. To find or lock your iOS phone, you need Find My iPhone. To do this, turn on location services in Settings > Privacy > Geolocation by connecting your device to iCloud.

After that, start the process itself:

• go to iCloud.com;
• enter your Apple ID account information;
• select the Find My iPhone app;
• find the stolen gadget in the list.

Now you need to choose one of the options:

• sound a loud signal - used when you roughly understand where the gadget is located, or found it using a geolocation service;
• put your smartphone into lost mode;
• erase information about him. If you cannot return your device, you can delete all information on it, even if the device is turned off.

Lock in case of theft

If the data on your smartphone is not particularly valuable, or you have an old device, there is a risk of illegal use of the SIM card. There is a need to block the number. To do this you need to contact the operator mobile communications. The procedure is completed almost instantly, and the user is given new map, identical to the old one.

When contacting a communication salon, the owner of the gadget needs the passport on which the SIM card was registered. The blocking procedure can be clarified with the employees of the company providing these services.

Note!

Before contacting a communication store, you need to submit a statement to the police, attach copies of documents for the stolen gadget and information about the IMEI code to initiate a criminal case of theft.

Lost Mode

Lost mode for iPhones running iOS 5 and later locks the phone and displays a message sent by the device owner. It is almost impossible to gain access to such a smartphone, but this does not bother attackers, since it can be sold in parts and make a profit. The victim needs to contact the police as soon as possible.

Lost Mode allows the user to:

• call your phone;
• block flashing to avoid losing data;
• make it so that you can call from your phone only to the number specified by the owner in iCloud.

If your phone goes missing, you must immediately enable this mode.

Instructions for turning on the mode

Apple is a company that cares about the convenience of users. In case of theft, a development is provided that allows you to limit access to personal information stored in the gadget, and can also help law enforcement agencies find the device. You can lock your iPhone remotely or leave a message on the gadget’s screen with your coordinates in case it goes missing.

Note!

If your device is lost, you can try to remotely force it to sound an alarm. To do this, use the Find My iPhone app. You can do this using the iCloud website or using another iOS gadget.

To enable the mode, you need to perform a number of simple steps:

• go to iCloud, enter the Apple ID code and your password in the window;
• Open the Find My iPhone app. After this, the location of the device is determined in the form of a green circle, which you need to click on;
• in the window, press the letter “i”, in the window that appears, select the desired function"Lost Mode";
• Enter the password you previously set on the stolen smartphone. If it has not been installed, it must be invented, saved or remembered, since it will be needed to unlock the gadget if it is detected;
• enter the number that appears on the screen of the stolen iPhone to contact you. This step can be ignored, especially if the iPhone has not yet been found.

Blocking occurs instantly when you connect to the Internet or when you first connect your phone to the network.

If Find My iPhone is disabled, you must:

• immediately change your Apple ID account password on the Apple website;
• change passwords on all accounts: mail, social media, messengers;
• report the theft to law enforcement agencies;
• To connect with mobile operator and ask to restrict any calls from the number installed in the stolen iPhone.

When you enable the Find My iPhone function, you may receive information about the location of the gadget or its activation in your email. Beware of phishing scams and fake sites that require you to enter your Apple ID information.

How to protect your iPhone from theft?

The autonomy of smartphones allows them to be used in public places, but this increases the risk of loss. At the same time iPhone programs and iPad provides protection against illegal activity, ensuring the safety of information and preventing future illegal sales of gadgets. To protect your phone from theft, you need to activate your account iCloud recording and launch the “Find iPhone” option.

An iCloud account is Apple password ID and email address, used to activate and work with iCloud functions, as well as to access web applications hosted on the icloud.com resource.

Note!

At Apple help The ID used for iCloud can access many Apple services: Apple Online Store, App Store, Mac App Store, iTunes Store and so on.

When the system prompts you to sign in using your Apple ID, the user will need to enter the email and password used to activate iCloud.

Conclusion

Apple provides smartphone users with the safety of personal information even if their gadgets are lost or stolen. iPhones are almost impossible to hack, so they are often returned to their rightful owners using the Find iPhone feature.

If you still have questions about locking your iPhone, we recommend contacting our specialists. To contact them, use the online application form or call the number provided.

As statistics show, dear Cell phones steal more often than others. And among the leaders in crime reports - lost iPhone. How to return a stolen gadget, and what to do if your iPhone is stolen - read on.

Let’s immediately say that returning a lost or stolen iPhone is an extremely difficult matter. But the opportunity to regain your favorite gadget increases several times if it has an operating system installed iOS system version 5 and higher, and in the iPhone settings in the iCloud section, the lost mode is activated - the “Find iPhone” function.

Through iCloud, you can find a stolen gadget, identify its current location, and even remotely block the device. But this function only works if the phone is connected to the Internet. If a user has lost their iPhone or their gadget has been stolen, and the device is not connected to the network or is out of reach, iCloud will be powerless.

It often happens that a normally working iCloud cannot determine the actual location of the iPhone, which leaves the user bewildered. To solve this problem you need to:

• Enable geolocation feature. This is done in the “Settings” menu in the “System Services” section.
• Check whether the gadget is connected to the Internet.
• Please note that the latest current data on the location of the device can be obtained by the user only within 24 hours after the last connection to the network.

If one of the above conditions is not met, if your iPhone is stolen, you will not be able to return it using iCloud.

What to do when Lost Mode is on

If the lost mode on the iPhone is activated and functions normally, in a situation where someone has lost their iPhone, you can block it.

Below we describe step by step how to block an iPhone if it is stolen, and how the lost mode works.

So, the user actions will be as follows:

• If your iPhone 6 or another gadget model is stolen, you need to activate the lost mode in iC
• After this, you need to lock your iPhone by creating a password. If the lock password is already activated in the gadget settings, then when you turn on the lost mode, you will not be able to enter the password, because The iPhone is already password protected.
• Enter the user's contact phone number in the appropriate field.
• Write a message asking to return the gadget, promising a reward for this.
• Write a statement to the police about the loss of the gadget.

Law enforcement agencies will need to provide the international device identifier - 15 digits on the iPhone packaging in the barcode location.

If an attacker who has stolen a user’s smartphone connects it to the Internet, the blocked gadget will display a message on the screen requesting that it be returned to its owner. Now all that remains is to wait and hope that a call will come from him.

The question of how to block an iPhone if it is stolen was discussed in detail above. But what to do if it is not possible to enable the search function on your device?

What to do if your iPhone cannot be found via iCloud

If your iPhone 4, iPhone 5, 5s and other gadgets are stolen - newer versions, and for some reason use iCloud storage If you can't block your mobile device, the first step should be to contact the police. In such a situation, don’t even think about how to lock your iPhone, because... you'll only be wasting your time.

How can law enforcement agencies help if an Apple gadget is lost or stolen?

The point is that every time a mobile gadget connects to the operator’s network, it transmits its identification number, which was already mentioned above. The operator will be able to determine the geolocation of the iPhone and block it. However, this data will not be provided to the user in any case, because they are secret and can only be shared with the appropriate authorities.

Thus, through mobile operator Finding an iPhone is very easy. But practice shows that this method is not so effective, since the operator transmits information to the police several days or even weeks after the loss. During this period, the gadget, as a rule, ends up on the illegal market in some other country, and is successfully sold there. Unfortunately, if the user did not bother to enable the search function on his iPhone, the likelihood of returning the gadget is minimal.

What to do if the iCloud of a stolen iPhone is offline

If in cloud storage The iPhone is shown as an offline device, which means it is not currently connected to the Internet. In this situation, it is, of course, impossible to block the gadget. The user can only wait for the moment when the device is not turned on, and he learns about this from his computer, namely, he receives a notification by e-mail.

How long will you have to wait? If the device was locked using a password - not for long, because... To reset it, you will need to reflash the gadget and activate it, which means you will need a network connection. As soon as this is done, the gadget will enter lost mode, i.e. The person who stole your iPhone will receive a message demanding that the gadget be returned to its rightful owner.

In a situation where the lost mode on the iPhone was not turned on, the attacker who stole the device will not be able to completely unlock the device and use all its functions. The smartphone will simply be in a locked state.

Attention! If your Apple smartphone is stolen, do not erase it from iCloud memory under any circumstances. Anyway, sooner or later the gadget will be connected to the Internet and there will be a chance to return it. IN otherwise, only the police can help you, but the likelihood of success will be very low.

Agree, it will be a pity to lose an expensive gadget, especially if it is one of the new models - six, seven, etc. due to an annoying error in deleting device information from iCloud. Unfortunately, a number of users recklessly take this step, and, as a result, say goodbye to their smartphone forever.

So, don’t panic if you have lost your Apple smartphone or someone has stolen it from you. Initially, remember whether the search mode was turned on in your device, if so, then use the instructions above and wait patiently. The probability of returning the gadget is very high. If you did not take care of this, immediately contact law enforcement authorities with a statement.

Losing a phone is unpleasant in itself, because now everyone is so accustomed to it that many daily tasks cannot be done without it. But it could not only get lost, it could be stolen or found on the street and used for insidious purposes. You need to lock your iPhone as quickly as possible to prevent attackers from obtaining personal information and gaining access to financial accounts.

How to lock your iPhone when necessary

Blocking SIM and bank cards is carried out by calling the support center operator of the company that connected you to its system as a subscriber. And if the iPhone or tablet itself is lost, it is possible to block it using Apple service iCloud, or rather, with the support of the blocking function - “Find iPhone”.

Find My iPhone is based on transferring it GPS coordinates via any of the Internet channels (cellular data or Wi-Fi). To read them, do the following:

When you log in from any gadget or PC, the iCloud.com map will display the location of your iPhone. Location data is updated whenever the iPhone accesses the Internet through any connection, even a Wi-Fi hotspot in a nearby cafe.

Lock iPhone

Before the appearance of the Lost Mode feature on Apple devices, the good old approach worked - calling a stolen or lost device. 99% of such cases ended with the thief or the one who found the lost smartphone throwing away the previous owner’s SIM card and, having inserted his own, continued to use the gadget. Apple has made it impossible to bypass the blocking of its gadgets.

To activate Lost iPhone mode, do the following:

When personal data remains on the iPhone (monetary details of any accounts, authorized sessions on social networks and instant messengers, telephone directory, etc.), use the “Erase iPhone” function. The first time you connect to the Internet, the gadget will perform independent full reset with cleaning personal folders. Also, do not remove the lost gadget from the list of your devices in iCloud - this will lead to a complete loss of control over it: after flashing it at the nearest service center (or yourself), the person who received your iPhone will become its full owner.

Mistakes owners make when stealing an iPhone

Of course, you will contact the police with a statement about the theft of your property by an attacker - the owners are driven to do this by the fact that Apple gadgets, unlike smartphones and tablets, Android based, belong to the highest class of mobile electronics and are expensive. For example, the cost of an iPhone X in 2018 is several tens of thousands of rubles. And if the loss of a tablet costs 3000 rubles. would not seem so unprofitable for its owner, then the owner’s search for the missing Apple devices becomes the first priority.

Actions you should not take if you lose your iPhone:

1. Do not disable Lost Mode if you do not initially have password protection enabled. The action is carried out only under the strict supervision of police officers - they may need to search for the missing iPhone by serial number (IMEI), but the gadget will remain blocked.
2. Do not remove iPhone from the list of devices “linked” to your iCloud account. This action frees the device from any identification and subsequent remote control.
3. Don't be fooled by calls from unknown people, posing as Apple support employees, police officers, or passers-by who care about your problem and decide to help you get your iPhone back - especially if they ask you to disable all locks on the gadget.

What to do if your lost iPhone is offline?

Sooner or later, someone will get their hands on an iPhone - unless it was thrown in the trash or destroyed in some other way. It is unlikely that the finder or thief will admire it as if it were a high-tech brick - he will definitely charge it: any Chinese USB charger is suitable for the iPhone, or it can be charged from a PC or laptop of any configuration, or from the “cigarette lighter” in the car via USB. Lightning or 30pin cable. Having charged the battery, the candidate for the new owner of the gadget will turn it on and try to do something with it, even by changing the SIM card - the iPhone will immediately synchronize its further plan of action with your iCloud account. All you have to do is wait until your device is detected and becomes available. Having received a new location on the iCloud map, go to the address indicated on the map, having previously involved law enforcement agencies in the case.

Apple was the first to introduce the proper level of protection on its devices - there are often situations when a stolen iPhone cannot be unlocked. No way. At all. It turns only into a high-tech means for urgently calling the special services. So don't lose your iPhone—and don't let someone do it in front of you.