Research-checked Last researched: 30 October 2026 · For your own device only

Lost or stolen iPhone: what to do first

By the iphonefix.us editorial team · Research-based, last researched 30 October 2026.

Illustration of a lost iPhone with Find My

Losing a phone is a panic moment, and panic is exactly when people make the second mistake: handing over passwords to a stranger who claims to have found it, or erasing the phone before they have tried to locate it. Do these steps in order, and do not skip the first one.

1. Mark it as lost in Find My

From another Apple device, or from iCloud.com on any browser, open Find My, select the iPhone, and turn on Lost Mode. The phone locks with its existing passcode, displays a custom message with a phone number you choose, and suspends Apple Pay cards on that device. Location tracking continues where possible, so you can still see where it is.

2. Tell your carrier

Report the loss to your mobile carrier and ask them to suspend the line. This stops someone using your number for calls, texts, and two-factor codes sent by SMS. If the phone is on a family plan, the account holder may need to make the call.

3. Report it, and change key passwords from a trusted device

File a report with local police if it was stolen — you will need the report number for insurance and sometimes for the carrier. Then, from a device you trust, change the passwords for your Apple Account and your email account first, because email is the key that resets almost everything else.

4. Erase only when recovery looks unlikely

If days pass with no location and no contact, erase the phone from Find My. Erasing protects your data, but it also ends tracking, so it is a last step, not a first one. Even after an erase, Activation Lock remains on: a stranger still cannot set the phone up with their own account, which is the whole point of the lock.

Beware the “finder” scam

A common scam after a loss goes like this: you get a text saying your phone was found, with a link to “verify” or “unlock” it. The link is a fake Apple sign-in page designed to steal your password. Real finders do not need your password, and Apple does not ask you to sign in through a text link. If a message pressures you to act now, type icloud.com into your browser yourself instead.

Frequently asked questions

My iPhone is lost. What is the very first thing to do?

Mark it as lost in Find My from another device or iCloud.com. That locks it with your passcode, shows a message with a contact number, and suspends cards in Apple Pay.

Should I erase a lost iPhone immediately?

Not always. Erasing removes your ability to track it, and if Find My was on, Activation Lock still protects it after an erase. Mark it lost first, track it if you can, and erase only if recovery looks unlikely or sensitive data is at risk.

Someone found my phone and asks for my Apple ID password to return it. Is that legitimate?

No. Never share your password or verification codes. A genuine finder does not need your account to return a phone — Lost Mode already shows your contact message.