A missing phone is both a device problem and an account-recovery problem. Use another trusted device or a friend's browser in guest mode. Do not share a verification code or device passcode with someone claiming to have found it.
Secure the phone
- iPhone: Go to iCloud Find Devices, select the device and mark it as lost. Apple says you can do this without a verification code. Keep it in Find My, even if you later erase it, so Activation Lock remains.
- Android: Go to Find Hub, select the device, then locate or secure it if available. Remote actions depend on the phone's power, connection and settings.
- If theft seems likely, contact your carrier to suspend the SIM or line, and report the theft to local authorities. Do not travel to an unfamiliar map location to confront someone.
Protect the accounts it can open
Review your main email and Apple or Google account security settings from another trusted device. Check signed-in devices, recovery methods and payment activity. If the phone contained an authenticator app, use your saved backup method or the provider's official recovery process; do not remove your only working factor before a replacement is ready.
Erase only when appropriate
Remote erase may be sensible when recovery is unlikely, but it is difficult or impossible to undo. First check whether you need the device's location or data that is not backed up. Apple's
lost-iPhone steps and Google's
lost-Android steps spell out the limits for each platform.
Record what you did
Keep a short record of when you marked the phone lost, contacted the carrier and changed account settings. Check your carrier account for a replacement SIM or eSIM request you did not make. After recovering or replacing the phone, test MFA and restore access before retiring any old recovery method.
