If you’ve ever lost or misplaced your Apple device or personal item with an AirTag attached, you know how frustrating it can be. But with Find My, you can easily track down your device or item on a map, get directions to its location, and even play a sound to help you find it. In this article, we’ll explore how you can use Find My to locate your lost Apple device or AirTag.
Find your stuff with Find My
Whether it’s your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even a personal item like your wallet or keys with an AirTag attached, Find My can help you find it. By using the Find My app, you can see the location of your device or item on a map and take necessary actions to retrieve it.
To find your device or item, follow these simple steps:
- Open Find My.
- Choose Devices or Items.
- Select your lost device or item to find it on a map. If you’re part of a Family Sharing group, you can also locate your family members’ devices or shared items.
- Choose Directions to open its location in Maps.
- If you’re in close proximity, tap Play Sound.
- If your iPhone has Ultra Wideband, you may be able to tap Find Nearby to see the distance and direction to your AirTag or AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
And that’s it! With Find My, you can easily locate your lost Apple device or item and take necessary actions to retrieve it.
Mark your device or item as lost
While you’re in the process of searching for your lost device or item, it’s important to ensure its safety and security. By marking it as lost, you can protect it from unauthorized access and display a message to increase the chances of someone returning it to you.
To mark your device or item as lost, follow these steps:
- In Find My, select your missing device or item.
- Scroll down to Mark as Lost (or Lost Mode), then select Activate (or Enable).
- Follow the onscreen steps if you want to display your contact information on your missing device or when someone scans your AirTag with their iPhone or smartphone.
- Finally, select Activate.
By marking your device or item as lost, you can take proactive steps to ensure its safety and increase the chances of its return.
Alternate methods to use Find My
If you don’t have access to an iPhone or other Apple device to use Find My, don’t worry. There are alternative methods available to help you locate your lost device or item.
Use Find Devices on iCloud.com
You can use Find Devices on iCloud.com to find your device, mark it as lost, or even erase it remotely. Simply visit iCloud.com/find and sign in to your Apple ID. From there, you can follow the onscreen instructions to locate your device, mark it as lost, or erase it remotely.
Use a family member’s device
If you’re part of a Family Sharing group, you can use Find My on a family member’s device to locate your lost device. By sharing your location with your family members, your devices will be listed in their Find My app under Devices. This allows you to track the location of your lost device using their device.
Troubleshooting Find My
In some cases, Find My may not be able to display the location of your device or show it as offline. Here are a few scenarios where this may occur:
- If your device is powered off or not sending its location, Find My will display the last known location sent by the device or the last known location on the Find My network.
- If more than seven days have passed since your device last sent its location, Find My won’t be able to display a location and will show “No location found.”
- If your device is online but unable to send its location due to issues with Location Services, Find My won’t be able to display a location and will show “Not sharing location • Online.”
It’s worth noting that the Find My network, an encrypted and anonymous network of Apple devices, can still help find your lost device even when it’s offline. Nearby devices securely send the location of your missing device to iCloud, ensuring your privacy.
What to do if your device is permanently lost or stolen
If you’ve exhausted all efforts and can’t find your Apple device, or if you suspect it has been stolen, it’s important to take immediate action to protect your personal information. By erasing your device remotely, you can ensure that all of your data, including credit and debit cards in your Apple Wallet, is deleted.
To erase your device in Find My, follow these steps:
- In Find My, choose Devices.
- Select your lost device.
- Scroll down and choose Erase This Device.
- Finally, select Erase This [device].
Please note that erasing your device is irreversible, so make sure you’ve tried other options before taking this step. Additionally, if you’re running iOS 15 or later, or iPadOS 15 or later, you can still use Find My to locate your device even after it has been erased.
FAQs
Q: Can you still find your Mac or Apple Watch if it’s near a Wi-Fi network?
A: Yes, if your Mac or Apple Watch is near a previously-used Wi-Fi network, you may still be able to locate it using Find My.
Q: How can you find a family member’s device using Find My?
A: If you’re part of a Family Sharing group, you can find a family member’s device by sharing your location with them. Their devices will then appear in your Find My app under Devices.
Q: Why can’t Find My display the location of my device?
A: Find My may not be able to display the location of your device if it’s powered off, not sending its location, or experiencing issues with Location Services.
Conclusion
Losing an Apple device or personal item can be a stressful experience, but thanks to Find My, you now have the tools to locate and retrieve your lost belongings. Whether it’s finding your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even an item with an AirTag, Find My provides an easy and efficient way to track down your valuables. Remember to mark your device or item as lost and take advantage of the Find My network for added security. So, the next time you misplace something important, you can rely on Find My to help you find it.
