Protect the phone before it goes missing: use a strong passcode, enable the official finding service, secure the mobile account and make sure you can recover critical accounts from another device.
Set the foundations
- A strong device passcode that is not reused elsewhere;
- Face ID or fingerprint as convenience, not a replacement for the passcode;
- Find My on iPhone or Find Hub on Android;
- automatic system and app updates;
- 2FA on primary email and platform accounts;
- a mobile-network account PIN or strong password.
Reduce damage if stolen
- Hide sensitive notification previews.
- Enable Stolen Device Protection on a supported iPhone.
- Use theft-protection features offered by supported Android devices.
- Keep IMEI, serial number and purchase evidence outside the phone.
- Maintain a recent backup and independent recovery codes.
If the phone disappears
- Use Find My or Find Hub from a trusted device.
- Mark the device lost or secure it.
- Contact the mobile provider if SIM misuse is possible.
- Tell the police if it was stolen and preserve the reference number.
- Change critical credentials if account access may be exposed.
- Erase remotely only after considering location, evidence and data recovery.
Never remove theft locks too early
Do not remove a stolen iPhone from Find My merely because a message claims it has been found. Removing it can disable Activation Lock. Ignore phishing messages asking for the passcode, password or verification code.
Protect the recovery chain as well as the handset
A strong lock screen is only one layer. The email account, mobile number and password manager often control recovery for everything else.
- Use a strong device passcode and hide sensitive notification previews.
- Enable Find My or Find Hub and test account access from another device.
- Add an operator account PIN and keep recovery codes somewhere the phone cannot lose with itself.
Choose the safest setup path
Use this section to reduce the value of a stolen phone, protect accounts and choose safe actions after loss without confronting anyone or trusting an approximate map marker.
- Check or verify: How to Check App Permissions on Android; How to Check App Permissions on iPhone; How to Check If Your Phone Has Been Hacked.
- Set up or change: How to Block Unknown Callers; How to Set Up Face ID or Fingerprint Unlock; How to Set Up Find My Device on Android; How to Set Up Find My iPhone.
- Prepare or protect: How to Protect a Phone From Theft; Public Wi-Fi Safety: How to Protect Your Phone.
- Fix or recover: How to Find a Lost Phone; How to Remotely Lock a Lost Phone; How to Remotely Wipe a Stolen Phone; How to Remove a Hacker from Your Phone.
- Use the focused guide: How to Lock Your Phone with a Strong Passcode; How to Recognise Phishing on Your Phone; How to Revoke App Access to Your Camera and Microphone; How to Stop Spam Text Messages.
When this hub has done its job
The phone should be harder to access or resell, critical accounts should have independent recovery, and the owner should know the safe order for lock, SIM protection and possible wiping.