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This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions.
This article has been viewed 2,608 times.
This wikiHow teaches you what to do if you come across a lost iPhone.
Steps
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1Check to see if the phone is in Lost Mode. When the owner realizes their iPhone is missing, they may enable Lost Mode to display a message with contact information or instructions for return. Check the lock screen for a message, then contact the owner to arrange pickup.
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2Check for a medical ID. If the owner previously set up an emergency contact for medical emergencies, you can call that number to let them know you’ve found the person’s iPhone. Here’s how to check:
- Swipe right to reach the passcode screen.
- Tap Emergency to launch the emergency keypad.
- Tap Medical ID at the bottom of the keypad. If an emergency contact is listed, call that number to report the iPhone found.
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3Answer an incoming phone call. The owner may try calling from another phone once they realize theirs is missing.
- The probability of receiving a call from the owner is high, so keep the iPhone turned on while it’s in your possession.
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4Check the recent calls list. If the phone’s screen is unlocked, try calling one of the owner's contacts to let them know you've found the iPhone. Here's how:
- Open the Phone app by tapping the green and white phone receiver at the bottom of the home screen.
- Tap Recents to see if there’s a phone number they call regularly.
- Tap phone number or contact name to place the call.
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5Contact the phone’s carrier. The mobile provider (e.g. AT&T, Verizon) will be able to track down the owner. The best way to do this is to physically take the iPhone into the carrier’s storefront.
- If there’s no way to get the phone to the carrier in person, give them a call. They can track down the owner using the IMEI code that's printed on the back of the phone or in the SIM tray.
- If the IMEI is not printed on the phone's back, gently insert the end of a paperclip into the small hole in the rectangle (the SIM tray) on the phone’s edge, then pull out the tray to find the IMEI.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat if the phone is locked?
Community AnswerLeave the phone on and keep it charged. This will ensure that the owner can keep track of location. You can also try taking a few pictures of your contact information on the lost phone by sliding to the left for the camera. Include your phone number and possibly that are trying to help the owner find it. By keeping the phone plugged in, you have a higher chance of the photos being uploaded to the cloud. Since the photos are in the cloud, the owner can access them without having the phone.
About This Article
Nicole Levine, MFA
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 2,608 times.
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Co-authors: 1
Updated: April 30, 2018
Views: 2,608
Categories: IPhone
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