There are few things more annoying in these fast-paced times than losing a phone. We use our phone for so much more than just calling, the thought of a stranger accessing our digital lives is sickening. The faster you find your phone, the more secure your data is. Read this article to find your phone as quickly as possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Search nearby
Step 1. Call your phone
Use a friend's phone or a landline to call your own mobile number. If the phone is nearby, you will hear a ringing tone or vibration. Or maybe someone picks up who can tell you where your phone is.
- If you don't have access to another phone, call from your computer, such as Gmail or Skype.
- This method will not work if your phone is on silent or if the battery is dead.
Step 2. Take a good look around
If you think you may have put the phone down somewhere, do a quick search in logical places.
- If you're a bit messy by nature, it's a good idea to take a look under piles of paper and other junk. Thin cell phones can easily disappear under piles of papers.
- Check the backrests of the places you sat that day. Many sofas or chairs have seats and armrests that a phone can easily slide between.
- Look under car seats. Phones often end up under the car seat.
- Ask family and friends if they've seen your phone -- or borrowed it. You never know, it can't hurt to ask.
- Look under your bed and in the bathroom. The phone may have slipped out of a pocket while you were changing or you may have left it in a bathroom cabinet in a messy mood.
- Look where you normally charge your phone or where the whole family keeps the phones on that big phone mountain. Sometimes you don't see things when you're a little worried. Check again if your phone is next to that thing of the same color, maybe you just over looked it.
Step 3. Send a text message to your lost phone
Then the person who has your phone now knows that you have lost the phone. For example, you could write, "Help! I've lost my phone! If you find my phone, please call [enter a number where you can be reached]. Your reward will be extra karma points!"
Method 2 of 3: Track your phone
Step 1. Use location services
If you have an iPhone, you can use the "Find My iPhone" app. Or you can use an app like "GadgetTrak". Android users can use the Android device manager website or an app like Cerberus or SwanSong to track the phone. You can also delete the data on your phone with these programs.
- To use Find My iPhone, you must log into iCloud's website on a computer, or another Apple device if you have one. You can see your iPhone on a map and you can remotely lock or wipe your iPhone if you want.
- The "Android Device Manager" website is a service provided by Google that allows you to track your Android phone using Google maps. Here too you can delete your data remotely if you wish, provided you checked the appropriate checkbox on your phone.
- The Cerberus app lets you remotely lock your Android phone, sound an alarm, clear its memory, see a list of recent phone calls, and more.
- SwanSong can send you an email with your phone's GPS location when the battery runs out. You can also send a text message to your own phone and the GPS coordinates will be emailed to you.
- Windows phone users can go to the "My Phone" section on the windowsphone.com website. From there, you can track your phone and remotely wipe its data.
- If you think your phone has been stolen, try your phone never to find out yourself. Instead, file a report with the police and let them take care of the problem further. You can get into serious trouble if you go to the location where your phone is located.
Step 2. Retrace your steps
After you have searched the most obvious places, such as your home, your car or your workplace, you can start thinking about other possible places. Think about exactly where you've been since you last saw your phone. Here are some suggestions:
- The gym or locker room of the sport you practice.
- The cafe where you had lunch.
- In the bus, train or taxi.
- At a meeting place.
- A place where you have emptied your pockets, like the supermarket, the bank, wherever.
Step 3. Call around
Call places you've been and call people you've seen since you last saw your phone. You may feel a little embarrassed, but finding your phone is well worth it.
- Large retail chains and the Dutch Railways have a lost and found department. Go check there first as it is quite possible that someone left your phone there.
Method 3 of 3: Take action
Step 1. Change all your passwords and login codes
This can take a lot of time if you are very active online. For others, it's a simple job and it just happened.
- Do not wait too long with this, especially if you are afraid that someone has stolen your phone. Losing your phone is bad enough, but identity theft is much worse.
- It is best to change all your passwords before you physically look for your phone. This prevents anyone with access to your data from doing harm. If you do find your phone, it doesn't matter that you have set new passwords.
- Start with the most important passwords. That is your email accounts, internet banking, Facebook and online storage services. Do the financial and personal matters first. Once you have reset the most important passwords, you can move on to the less important ones.
Step 2. Contact your phone provider
Make sure you have your details to hand so that they can easily block your SIM card. This prevents a potential thief from using your SIM card to make calls or use the internet.
If you do not have a prepaid phone, but a subscription, it is a good idea to have your number disconnected within two hours to avoid a high phone bill
Step 3. File a report
Go to the police station. Lost phones are often handed over to the police. Most people don't think that others can be that nice, but it really happens very often. You also need proof of declaration for any insurance. The police also have a service where they can send a "text bomb" to a stolen phone. Even if the SIM card is changed, the text messages will continue to be sent to the phone.
Step 4. Learn from the loss
If you didn't have an app on your phone to track your phone, install it once you've found your phone or bought a new phone. Check whether your passwords are strong enough and think whether it is really necessary that certain services always remain logged in on your phone. Use the bad experience for good and make it easier to solve next time.
- Register with online databases such as MobiMY. The IMEI number is a unique code by which your phone can be recognized, you will need this if you are going to file a report. If the finder also registers your phone with this number with MobiMY, there is a match and you can get your phone back. You can find the number by *#06# to call with your phone.
Tips
- Always set a passcode for your phone.
- Back up all data on your phone regularly or set it to do so automatically with a cloud service.
- Try to remember to keep your phone in a safer place once you have found your phone.
- Make sure your contact details are easily found on your phone, in case someone finds your phone and wants to return it. Make it clear that any costs are for your account. Do not enter your home address, only your e-mail address.
- Try to stay calm if you have lost your phone. You will notice that you will find your phone sooner.