All fans of Apple products are looking forward to the arrival of new device models. It’s an extremely unpleasant situation when only the purchased iPhone or iPad is stolen or you accidentally forgot it in a cafe, restaurant, gym. Thanks to the powerful protection of the manufacturer, they will no longer be able to use it, but the very fact of the loss is frustrating. You can avoid this situation if you use the functions of geolocation searches. To do this, you need to connect special options on your mobile.
How to track iPhone from computer
You need to take care of connecting the geolocation right after the purchase. A person always loses the phone all of a sudden and cannot predict this moment. Apple suggests using both built-in and third-party programs to search for an iPhone by geolocation through a computer. There are such options for tracking the device:
- Built-in functions. ICloud service provides the ability to determine the location of the device directly from the computer.
- Through the application. This is specialized software that gives you access to determine iPhone coordinates from various sources (Wi-Fi, GPS coordinates, SIM card, IMEI)
- Mobile operator services. Large companies offer remotely finding an iPhone if a SIM card is inserted in it.
Find iPhone via icloud from computer
Apple has a proprietary service for finding a phone using geolocation. The service “Find iPhone” is called, you can use it only if you carry out a preliminary configuration. The function will work only when the Internet is turned on on the gadget, in its absence the last point where the iPhone was detected will be shown. You can find the icloud iPhone from your computer using the following instructions:
- Using another phone, log in to “Find iPhone” through your Apple ID. The program is available in the App store.
- In the absence of a phone, you can enter from a computer through a browser from the iCloud site. You need to use your account again.
- You can bind multiple devices to your account at once. Select the one for which you want to search through a computer.
- After that, the location of the phone or the last coordinate where it was recorded appears on the map. You can send a call signal to the device even when the sound is turned off, display a notification.
- It will be possible to see the last location of the device only if the functions “Last Geo Position” are activated on it.
How to install and enable the Find iPhone app
The function must be activated in advance in order to be able to find the iPhone through the computer. When you turn on the device for the first time, the operating system immediately offers to activate the ability to track the device. The benefit of the function will be noticeable in different situations - not only if the device is lost, the attacker has stolen a tablet or mobile. This option is useful to parents who can search for a device from a computer and understand where their children are.
The iPhone search option will help you find a device that has fallen out of your pocket somewhere and you just can’t find it, you forgot it in a public place or it fell over a sofa. If you missed the activation of the functionality at the first start, then you can configure it according to the following instructions:
- Open the device settings on the iPhone.
- Click on “iCloud”, find the line under the name “Find iPhone” and activate the function.
- Next, go to the "Privacy" settings section, click on the "Location Services" item and make sure that they are also activated.
- Scroll the page with the geolocation function, find the “System Services” parameter, select it.
- Here you need to enable the option "Find iPhone".
Search iPhone from computer by IMEI
Each phone has a unique identifier, which consists of 15 characters. This IMEI code is called, it is unique (data cannot be repeated), and with it you can search for a phone through a computer. To do this, the GPS beacon must be activated on the equipment. To find iphone from your computer, you only need to get the coordinates through a special application. If your device has been stolen, using IMEI you can perform the following search options:
- Install special programs on the computer, for example, TrackerPlus, Find My iPhone, IMEI-Poisk 2.0. With the Internet turned on, they will locate the phone.
- If the phone is stolen, then enter your IMEI in the database of stolen mobile phones. This will significantly reduce the likelihood of resale of your gadget.
- Contact the law enforcement authorities. When filling out an application, you must specify the IMEI of the iPhone, Apple ID account information. They can also make a request to the mobile operator to provide the geolocation data on the SIM card. The owner alone cannot fulfill such a request.
Independent Navigation Programs
To use the geolocation function from a computer to search for an iPhone, you can use third-party programs. Most work only when the Internet is turned on, a GPS beacon, so they will not save from the actions of an attacker. They are well suited for tracking the movement of a user, such as a child. There are several popular options that iPhone owners can use for geolocation.
Apple product owners can install IMEI-Poisk 2.0. For tracking, a unique 15-digit identifier is used, there is access to the data of mobile operators, an online search is conducted. This will help you find the location of a person or find a stolen mobile. To work with these programs, you must specify the following information:
- the last known location of the phone
- when was the last time you used a gadget?
- IMEI device and number.
IMEI-Poisk 2.0 will send a request to all databases of mobile operators that are provided for public use. This will help to establish information on the latest activity of the iPhone, to perform a location search using geolocation. The subscriber will receive the following data:
- location of the mobile (if they did not manage to turn it off);
- is the device turned on now?
- where did you last call from your mobile phone;
- read the last text message sent from the gadget.
TrackerPlus - the program helps to find an iPhone by geolocation through a computer. Used to determine the location of the GLONASS and GPS satellite navigation systems. The installed and activated utility on the mobile helps:
- track the movement of the device;
- locate the device.
If you are going to buy an iPhone, then the SNDeepInfo program will help you check it in many ways. One of the most important is IMEI, which is assigned to each device. Checking the databases will prevent the acquisition of a stolen smartphone. SNDeepInfo can give you the following phone parameters:
- real amount of internal memory;
- the color specified by the manufacturer;
- production date;
- unlock methods;
- firmware version.
Positioning via mobile operator
Large companies providing mobile services offer to activate a paid service that helps track the location of your iPhone. This option will be useful to parents who want to know where their child or relative is. As a rule, access to the search results for an iPhone by geolocation from a computer can be obtained from your personal account. Features of the service are as follows:
- Search for an iPhone by geolocation through a computer has different costs for operators, as a rule, the fee is taken per day of using the service. Free features are not provided.
- Some operators do not give the opportunity to share the data of the search result to friends, even if they confirmed the permission.
- The mobile operator provides geolocation data even when the device is turned off.
- Additional applications for the phone are not needed. You can go to your personal account if you enter the login and password on the website from the computer and see all the results or send from another mobile USSD command.
Tracking another person's iPhone from a computer
A popular solution for tracking location by geolocation was the utility Find My Friends. This is an officially approved program for finding an iPhone from a computer. The owner of the phone can allow sharing geolocation data with friends or relatives. If you lose your smartphone, you can find it. Search for an iPhone by geolocation through a computer is carried out according to the following instructions:
- Download, install the program on the smartphone. You can download Find My Friends from the official App Store.
- Go through your account, in the upper right click on the plus icon.
- Indicate the data of your friend or relative to whom you want to open access to the iPhone search data by geolocation through a computer. Click on the word “Send”.
- Send the link to a friend and allow access to the information.
- A list of connected devices will be displayed on the main screen of the application.
Video
How to find iPhone by imei via computer.
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Often situations arise in life when you need to find your device. And this is not necessarily a theft, you can forget it somewhere, leave it, lose it and so on. Be that as it may, all the well-known ways to search for an iPhone immediately come to mind.
I already wrote an article on the blog about that. For one year, the article gained more than eight thousand views, this fact suggests that the topic is relevant, relevant and needs to be fully disclosed.
I decided to find out if there are other, more reliable ways to find an iPhone, and began to look for information on how to find an iPhone by imei.
First of all, we will understand what imei is. This abbreviation is called the fifteen-digit code. Translated into Russian, the name sounds like this - an international identifier for mobile equipment.
These numbers are on the box from under the iPhone, in the warranty card, on the cover of the device. Find iPhone by international identifier is possible only if the mobile device is on the network.
While the iPhone is turned off, it is impossible to determine its location. If your iPhone fell into the hands of strangers, and they replaced, the identifier of the device itself will not change, and the phone can be calculated.
Rather, you can see its location on the map.
Programs
Currently, there are both paid and free special utilities for determining the location of a mobile device by imei. In addition, there are online services offering their services.
However, be extremely careful, there will always be people who are ready to profit from the troubles of others. There are enough fraudsters in the network, they can fraudulently steal funds by promising to find your device.
But, as you know, after receiving the money you will not hear it anymore. What can I recommend to you? Having rummaged a bit on the Internet, I found a free easy utility - Find My Phone. It determines by the number of the device where it is currently located.
The program is quite simple, you need to download it to your computer, install and open it. The program interface looks like an iPhone screen.
Then, a map appears on the screen indicating the location of the device.
This way you can find out which street and in which house your iPhone is currently.
Online Services
Among the online services, I found the TrackerPlus universal satellite tracking system. Provided that the iPhone is turned on, the system determines its location by imei number. Will show the last route that the phone was moving.
Also, Google can help in finding the phone, through the phone search service - myaccount.google.com ›find-your-phone. In order to find your device you must have mail on Google, which is synchronized with the device.
Total
Although there are many ways to find iPhone by imei or using geolocation, but all of them will not give you a 100% guarantee of finding the device. Therefore, it is best to be careful and take care of your things.
If the phone was stolen, then first report it to law enforcement agencies, and only then do the searches yourself.
The loss of a mobile phone can make few people happy. And if earlier people in most cases put up with this fact, rarely addressing somewhere for searches, now there are several options that help correct the situation. Many Internet users are wondering how to find a lost iPhone, since this device is very expensive. And there are several ways that really help.
Why is it important
In addition to the obvious fact of the cost of the device, there are a number of reasons why it is worth looking for a lost smartphone. Firstly, today about 70% of iPhone owners store their important data in it. And it's not just about passwords or contacts. These are photographs, videos, notes, dates on the calendar, etc. Their loss sometimes upsets much more than the loss of the gadget itself. Secondly, billing information. This information when it comes to unscrupulous people can be used for the most unexpected purposes. Not only to steal funds from a bank account, but also to pay for various dubious cases. Therefore, how to find a lost iPhone, it is worth knowing to every owner of the "apple" gadget.
Built-in function
Apple, despite the opinions of competitors, is rather kind to its adherents. And this is expressed in particular in the fact that all devices have a built-in function that allows them to be found. Its use is absolutely free. The function called "Find iPhone" is called. If you configure it correctly from the first day of purchase, then there will be much less fear of loss.
How to adjust
First you need to go to the device settings. Since it is impossible to find a lost iPhone if it is lost using the built-in function, unless iCloud is adjusted in advance. And you can do this in the corresponding settings item. To enter iCloud, you will need to enter the AppleID, which is created the first time you turn on the device after purchase. After that, select the "Find iPhone" function. To enable it, you just need to drag the slider. It will change color from green to gray. A little lower is the sub-item "Geolocation". It must also be activated.
Why geolocation is needed
Those who are wondering how to find a lost iPhone 5, 4 or 6 (of any configuration) should deal with this item. Geolocation allows you to determine where the device is located at the time of use or not use, that is, always. It is noteworthy that the iOs 8 operating system allows you to track the last point of location before turning off the smartphone. Data will come to Apple automatically, without warning the user.
What does it give
Many of those who are wondering whether it is possible to find an iPhone (lost or stolen) do not even think that with the right setup, the process will not take much time. When a smartphone automatically informs Apple of its latest whereabouts without notice, it’s easier to find later. Even if the phone was stolen and is already being prepared for sale by dishonest people. Therefore, it is better to turn on the geolocation function at the first use. Further, the user is no longer required intervention.
Searches from the site
How to find an iPhone if you lost it, but it was configured correctly? You must go to the iCloud website, enter your personal account. To do this, enter your AppleID and password, which was invented earlier during registration. Even if the smartphone is turned off, you can see where it was online for the last time. This will significantly reduce the search radius. By the way, there is an opportunity to notify the finder or stolen that the device is wanted by the owner.
How to do it
In iCloud's personal account there is such a function as "loss mode". When it is activated, you can enter a message that appears on the screen of the lost smartphone. For example, many write their contact details so that the finder can contact the owner. In 55% of cases, this helps, since the blocked iPhone turns into a banal "brick", which is unrealistic to use.
Remote lock
Through the iCloud website, you can do it too. Especially if the user stores too much personal data on the device. For remote locking, you will need to enable the same "loss mode" function. Thanks to the pin-code of the device, which consists of four digits, the smartphone "closes" from outsiders. By the way, a message on the screen can be sent at the same time to increase the chances of a successful find.
Police
Oddly enough, if you lost iPhone 5 (how to find it differently, described above), then contacting law enforcement agencies can help. Each Apple product has its own personal individual and unique serial number, by which you can find the device in some cases. They are obliged to accept the statement of loss to the police; there are practically no grounds for refusal.
Where to find the series number
First of all, in a box from the device. Usually the serial number is written inside, finding it is quite simple. If, for some reason, the box is not preserved, then you should not despair. Since there is also AppleID. This is a unique login that can be used to control the device remotely. And determine the serial number of the iPhone too. You must contact the official support service of the company, in the section "My support profile". The answer to the question of what to do if you lost iPhone 4, how to find it, will come quickly enough. If the device is active and is in the coverage area of \u200b\u200bany network, whether it’s a mobile operator or wireless Wi-Fi, the coordinates of its location will be displayed almost instantly.
Disconnected machine
How to find a turned off iPhone? Many people ask this question, because most often those who find or steal the first thing turn off the smartphone in order to ultimately leave it to themselves or sell it. Oddly enough, but all the same tips that are described above will help. Just the changes will be activated when you turn on the phone. So, for example, when the iPhone is turned off, nothing is changed in the loss mode. But if you just turn on the device, a message from the owner will come to it. And the data will be blocked from prying eyes. This is the convenience of a closed system such as iOs.
If the phone is not configured
If for some reason the owner did not immediately enable the "Find iPhone" function on the device, then it will be more difficult to detect it. But to complicate the life of unscrupulous people who find the device, but do not want to return it immediately, you can. On the official website of Apple, it is possible to change the password for your AppleID account. This instantly closes access to many features. For example, to the AppStore, iTunes, iCloud and others. By changing passwords in social network accounts, you can protect them from prying eyes. To do this from a personal computer is quite simple. And the faster the user blocks all possible personal data remotely, the greater the chance that an unscrupulous person will still return the device, which he will not be able to use in the end.
Call to the operator
Since the iPhone is a smartphone in which there is a SIM card, you can contact the operator of the cellular company with a request for blocking. This will instantly disable access to messages, calls, and the Internet. However, most often thieves first of all get rid of SIM cards to make tracking the device more difficult. Therefore, this measure only helps to save funds that can be spent by the newly-made "owner" of the gadget.
Call to your number
First of all, the lost smartphone calls him from another number. And it is right. The world is not without good people who will gladly return the owner to his loss. Therefore, before you block a SIM card, you should call it. It is possible that the finder will respond quickly.
Social Alert
At the moment, groups are actively spreading on the Internet where people from one city or district communicate. In social networks, you can contact a post about the loss of a smartphone, describing the approximate course of events. It is possible that the finder will quickly respond to the call for return. By the way, there are not so rare cases when the newly-made "owners" of someone else’s iPhone themselves handle posts that they have found a device and wish to return. It is worth looking through social networks in the search process.
No other than the above methods, how to find a lost iPhone, does not exist. Apple is rather sensitive to its users, and therefore created such a closed system. However, this brings its positive results. Theft and irretrievable losses of apple products are only decreasing every year.
The loss or theft of an iPhone is always a big problem, since the mobile contains a huge amount of personal information and all kinds of passwords, including from payment systems. In addition, in the presence of potentially defamatory information, the user may become a victim of blackmail, and the presence of work-related data in the device’s memory can lead to dismissal.
There are so many ways to find a lost iPhone - both official and third-party. Let's see which one is right for you.
Obvious forgotten actions
First of all, we will consider the standard measures that should be taken in case of the loss of the absolute of any phone, not only from Apple.
- Call on your mobile. If the device has fallen somewhere nearby or is at all at your place, but where you did not look for it, then thanks to the call you will be able to quickly find the phone. If he got lost on the street, then a passerby can pick him up, and the further development of events depends only on his moral qualities. However, most people make contact, either realizing that they will find the phone anyway, or guided by a banal desire to help. If you do not have a device from which you can make a call, then you can find services for online calls on the Internet.
- Replace the password in your accounts. If you cannot remotely lock the device because you did not activate this function earlier, we recommend that you change your passwords in all accounts that are logged in to your phone as soon as possible.
- If you are afraid of wasting money from your account, then you can visit your mobile operator’s mobile office and ask to block the SIM card. But this is a very controversial measure: on the one hand, blocking will allow you to avoid losing funds on your account, however, it will deprive you of the opportunity to contact the person who found the phone, and also disable Internet access, which will not allow you to find your smartphone through Find My Phone. If you resort to it, then only if information about new expenses appears in the operator’s Personal Area.
How to find iPhone from computer via iCloud - use Find My Phone
If you activated this function in advance on the phone, then the search for the gadget will be much easier. It is better to turn on FMP immediately after buying a new iPhone, so that at a critical moment you do not remain without a main search tool.
Find My Phone is activated as follows:
Now directly to how to find iPhone from a computer through iCloud.
By clicking on the name of the device you need, you will get access to information about the battery level, and you can also use the three main functions of the smartphone:
- Play a sound. Used to search for a device in the immediate vicinity.
- Lost mode. Using this mode, you can set an additional password on the device and indicate your contact phone number so that a passer-by who finds the phone has the opportunity to contact you. In addition to the contact number, you can leave a message for the person who found the device. This can be your address, for example, or the amount of the reward - together with the number they will be displayed on the screen of a locked phone. The loss mode is disabled in the same menu as it was turned on.
- Erase all data from iPhone. As the name implies, this function allows you to delete all information from the device’s memory. It is recommended to use it in cases when you have a backup of the system, or when the risks associated with obtaining information by cybercriminals are too great.
How to find iPhone if it is turned off
If the smartphone was turned off or simply discharged, it is not possible to track the current location of the phone, however iCloud remembers and shows on the map the last place where the iPhone is before disconnecting. But there are some limitations:
- Function support appeared with iOS 8 and above;
- It is available only on devices released after the iPhone 4.
In addition, this function must first be enabled in the settings:
- Go to Settings\u003e iCloud\u003e Find My iPhone.
- Switch the Send Last Location slider to the active state.
How to find iPhone through another iPhone
On iOS, there is a Find My Freinds mobile application, the main task of which is to help friends find each other, but in practice it copes quite well with the search for lost smartphones.
How to find an iPhone through another iPhone:
- Install the app.
- Log in.
- Click on the Add icon (plus sign).
- Enter the requested information about a friend’s device.
- Expect permission from a friend (he must also have this application installed).
Thus, by installing this application, you can always find your device through another iPhone. So we recommend to worry about this in advance.
Find iPhone by IMEI
If the previous methods did not suit you, then there is another option - search by IMEI (this is a unique identification number of each phone, consisting of fifteen characters). IMEI allows you to find your device by GPS, even if data transfer or geolocation has been enabled.
IMEI can be found either from the device documentation or by typing the USSD command * # 06 #. You need to contact the police with an IMEI number, but for a start it would be better to try using the service for finding lost gadgets - we recommend TrackerPlus or its analogues.
How to find iPhone by phone number
Determining the location of the device by phone number is a difficult task. Only an operator can do this, and when you contact the customer support service, you will most likely hear that the company does not have such technical capabilities, which is obvious cunning. But in any case, such information is disclosed solely at the request of law enforcement agencies, and it is practically impossible to personally obtain it.
IPhone Search Software
If the official methods of finding the device do not bring the desired result, you can try using third-party programs to search for the iPhone.
- iHound. This software not only periodically records information about the movements of the smartphone, but also has the function of sending the exact location of the device when it is connected to the computer. Thus, you can easily track the house of an unscrupulous person who has found the phone, or the address of the point where stolen phones are transported.
- iLocalis. The program has richer functionality, but JailBreak is required to install it. If you have one, then you can, for example, find out the number of a new SIM card installed in the phone, and much more.
Summing up, we say that the most effective way to search is the basic function of Find My Phone. It is necessary to activate it in the new gadget without fail, since neither contacting the police, nor trying to find out the necessary information from the operator, in our reality, unfortunately, usually does not give a result.
It is a tragedy for the owner, not only because this smartphone is quite expensive, but also for another reason: according to surveys, 70% of owners of “apple” gadgets store important information on mobile devices, both personal and necessary for work and business. If the manager loses his iPhone (along with notes, emails and spreadsheets), this can "stall" his organization’s work for several days.
Fortunately, there is a chance to find a gadget. People who have lost their iPhone or iPad should put off self-flagellation and self-pity “for later” and take the measures described in this article first. Even if it is not possible to detect a lost iPhone due to these measures, it will be possible to delete the data stored in the device’s memory to prevent it from falling into the hands of ordinary people or, much worse, business competitors.
There are several measures you need to take. right away after detecting loss of iPhone. If the smartphone was found by a respectable person, it is likely that these simple measures will yield the result:
Call your number. Use the phone of a friend or work colleague for this. If you left the device on the street, the call will attract the attention of a passerby who will be able to give you the find for a modest reward. In the absence of a telephone from which you can make a call, use the “omnipotent” Internet at hand — for example, you can make a call to any number from the website www.iCantFindMyPhone.com. If the call does not give a result, proceed with further actions.
Temporarily block the SIM card. For this, it’s not even necessary personally to come to the mobile operator’s service office - just call the hotline number and name the passport data. This measure will protect against an impressive minus in the account.
Change passwords via computer. The iPhone saves in its memory all the passwords that you specified. If you, say, regularly transfer money through the iPhone in your Sberbank-Online Personal Account, then the loss of the device may well endanger your well-being. An attacker gaining access to your social network page will threaten your reputation.
Take preventive measures so as not to be in a situation where all your passwords are in the hands of an attacker. Use a password manager with one master code that a person who accidentally finds a gadget will not be able to find out for sure. About password managers for iPhone (and not only) is described.
Think about where you’ve been recently and where you might have lost your device.. Say, if you used the services of a taxi, you can dial an operator who will connect you personally with your driver. You can check with the driver if he found an iPhone.
Can I find iPhone by IMEI?
It’s easy to find the IMEI of the “apple” device: just dial * # 06 # and the number will appear on the screen.
What cannot be done if the Find iPhone feature is enabled?
Having reported the loss of the iPhone to the police, the user will probably be faced with the requirement to disable " Loss mode"So that law enforcement can track the location of the device by IMEI.
If a security password is set on the smartphone, you can disable the “Lost Mode” at the request of the police - the password is a fairly reliable protection.
Only the "apple" pro will be able to drop it - the probability that the finder is an advanced user is very small.
If the police ask to erase the iPhone and leave the iCloud account, in no case can they fulfill their request. The security password after erasing will be reset, which means that the person who discovered the iPhone, will be able to fully use the device. The owner can only hope for the speed of the police, which, unfortunately, does not put cases of missing phones in priority.
Apps to help find iPhone
Not only the device’s built-in functions, but also third-party applications available in the AppStore for free or for a moderate fee can help you find the gadget. These programs include:
Contact If Found
The application makes it possible to create a desktop screen saver on which the owner’s contact information is present. This program is free, but installs only on smartphones with iOS 8th version and higher.
iHound.
Program " ihound"-" personal investigator "of the owner of the iPhone. As soon as the lost gadget is connected to the PC, a letter will be sent to the owner’s mailbox indicating the exact address where the device is located. Thus, the owner may not allow the software of his smartphone to be changed by "computer craftsmen." Also " ihound"Periodically fixes the location of the gadget for preventive purposes - this means that the owner will be able to find out not only where the device is staying now, but also as it got there (for this you have to use Facebook or Twitter).
Reward if found
The program will create a colorful splash screen with the contact details of the owner. As soon as the person who found the iPhone turns on the device, he will see something like the following:
The program is paid, but its cost is low - only 75 rubles.
iLocalis
iLocalis is an application available only for iPhone with jailbreak (in Cydia) Its functionality is quite wide: for example, using iLocalis»You can find out a new number if you have changed the SIM card in your smartphone.
Conclusion
Improving the security of device owners is a growing trend. It is known that Apple engineers are developing a project of "zombie mode" iPhone - a gadget in this state will be able to transmit information to the owner about the location even when it is off. However, while users of "apple" gadgets have to be content with the function " Find iPhone", Which, alas, does not always bring results.
