iPhone is the world’s best smart phone available today without any doubt. People carry their phones everywhere they go, and hence there is always a chance of them forgetting their iPhone somewhere or the iPhone getting stolen. Learn how to track, message, erase and recover your lost or stolen iPhone.
Also read: 4 Ways to Track and Recover your Stolen Laptop
Locate or Track iPhone
1. Track iPhone via MobileMe
Apple has announced a new service called Find My iPhone that will allow iPhone owners to remotely locate their lost or stolen iPhones using the iPhone’s GPS. The service will be available as part of Apple’s MobileMe online subscription service.
Find My iPhone will pinpoint the iPhone’s current location using Google Maps and let owners send and display a message on the iPhone even if it’s locked, presumably to provide information on how to return the phone to the owner of the phone. The Find My iPhone feature can also force the iPhone to play a sound for 2 minutes, which is useful for not only getting the attention of the finder of iPhone but also locating it between couch cushions.
The Find My iPhone feature will require a subscription to Apple’s MobileMe service, which costs $99 a year (currently $65.99 on Amazon.com) after a free 2-month trial.
Update: Find my iPhone Goes Free with iOS 4.2
Update 2: Find my iPhone is now part of iOS 5 via the iCloud.
2. iPhone anti-theft solution – iLocalis
iLocalis lets you track your iPhone device location and also remote control it! It is considered as the best theft-tracking and remote control utility for Apple iPhone.
iLocalis has the following uses-
- Never lose your iPhone: If it is missing, just log onto the iLocalis site and you’ll know where it was located last.
- Retrieve a stolen iPhone: If your iPhone is stolen you can log into the site and check out where it’s at. Extra features built into iLocalis allow you to send text messages or make calls on your iPhone when you don’t even have it with you. If your iPhone is stolen, log in and send yourself a text message. If the thief changed the sim card you’ll have their phone number!
- Allow your family and friends to know where you are: iLocalis will send a message to your friends when you are near by. You can also set it up to allow your friends to locate you. If your friend also has iLocalis you can send messages to each other for free. No text messaging charges.
- iLocalis can also be used for a business that needs location services for their employees. Employees carrying iPhones with iLocalis can be tracked via the web site easily.
Note: iLocalis needs a jailbroken iPhone with Cydia installed and supports all firmware versions on iPhone 3G and 3GS.
3. GPS tracking for iPhone with Mobile Spy 3.0
Mobile Spy version 3.0 spy software for Apple iPhone from Retina-X studios allows users to track GPS locations, SMS messages and calls of employees, teen or family mobile phones by logging into SSL secured online control panel from any computer or phone’s web browser.
Mobile Spy allows users to monitor their handsets in real time and runs in the background behind all other applications. After the spy software is setup on the cellphone, it will silently record SMS messages, GPS locations and call activities, and then upload the data to your private Mobile Spy secure online account.
The Mobile Spy version 3.0 software is compatible with all iPhone models, Windows Mobile or Symbian OS based smartphone and is priced at $99.97 (1-year subscription).
4. Find and Recover your Stolen iPhone with iHound
This free security program alerts you when your iphone is connected to another individual’s computer. It will also track down the location of where your device is being used.
When your missing iPhone is being plugged in to a computer, you will:
1. Get an email saying that your tracked device is being located.
2. Get a detailed report on where it is being used by logging in to iHound’s website.
The second method can be very useful when the stolen iPhone is switched off and later gets connected to a computer for changing software or formatting the memory card.
Download iHound for iPhone or iPod Touch
5. Recover your Lost/Stolen iPhone with Navizon app
Navizon is a hybrid positioning system combining GPS, Wi-Fi and Cellular triangulation techniques. It calculates the geographic location of a wireless device by analyzing the signals from nearby Wi-Fi access points and cellular towers and comparing it against a database of known data points. A new option called Locate-by-SMS allows you to locate your lost iPhone by just sending an SMS text message to it.
6. MyFoundCast
MyFoundCast, a patent pending technology is the internet’s first lost and found service that allows you to create custom wallpaper and embed information into that wallpaper so when somebody finds your iPhone or iPod Touch they will know how to return it. All members are given a unique tracking ID and automatically registered in our lost and found database. You may register the serial number of any iPod or iPhone.
I am not sure if this really works. If someone is honest enough to return your iPhone he/she will do some basic research on the owner of the iPhone and return it back. Isn’t it?
if ive already lost the phone yest. will buying one of these apps locate it?
So i lost my iphone 3gs 16g a week ago… I was at a get together with some friends. This guy i meet once a week ago was talking to me an flirting an asking me out , an i wasn’t that interested but i didnt let him now so anywyas ..he was like let me charge ur phone for u , an i was like no he was like dont worry trust me an i was like okay …five minutes latter he leaves with me phone…a week latter i see him an i ask him for my phone back he says no i have to pay him $200. I didnt because i knew he would take my money an fight me becuase his that stupid . True story
((
i`ve lost my iphone two months ago please help me find it,i only got the serial number and imei nr.i stay in namibia the police and network operators is not of much help pls pls
Lloyd is wrong. he said something about not blaming att or apple if your phone is lost. He said its like blaming humane society if your dog is lost.
You pay apple for the device and att for the service(which apple gets kickbacks from). They have a responsibility to help you find it. Worried about losing it.. there are companies that insure laptops and i am sure they will insure your Iphone. good luck
What if the phone is shut off or battery is dead?…can the stolen phone still be located via GPS? Is the iPhone (on or off) still emitting a GPS beep/beacon?
No, the phone has to be switched on for GPS to work
I HAVE LOST MY I PHIONE, I NEED YOUR KIND HELP TO FIND OUT IT PLEASE I WILL GIVE MY I PHONE DETAILS PLEASE FIND IT FOR ME.011934005146193 ITS THE SERIYAL NUMBER. PLEASE FIND AND LET ME KNOW.
what about if there is no sim card in there anymore? what happens if the person takes out the sim card?
I have just had my iphone stolen. The low lives broke into my house, stole cash and my car keys, took my car for a joy ride and burnt it! I have no insurance for anything! If someone out there who may know of how to track a stolen iphone, please post a reply as this will help me find who broke into my house and put my wife and daughter at risk.
Lost my iPhone at Bounce U in Plano, TX on February 27, 2010 between 12:30 pm and 3 pm. The owner and staff were very nice in helping me look for it, but we were unsuccessful! I have iLocalis and MobileMe, but the phone was dead when lost. I was at a 3rd grader’s class party with my daughter and her friends, and I wonder if it’s worth asking the principal or teacher to announce it in class, in the event a kid picked it up! I’ve already asked the owner to contact the party planners for the parties that followed. Lucily, the phone was locked, and I have the IME and SN, and the Sim Card #, but it’s all no good unless the phone is charged and turned on. There’s also a Lost and Found msg that will pop up should it be turned on! It’s suspended, but I’ll keep hope alive!
Lost my phone on 20 FEb 2010 miss it..
Lost my IPHONE 3G March 3rd in Lexington KY…Pink cover on it. Serial # 848302N6Y7H… If you find it please let me know. Also took my new pink coach person, wallet and all my keys:(
that would be pink coach purse:)
I had my iphone stolen at a party. I noticed this a hour after it happened. I did not have any theft apps on it. I called the phone several times to no avail. I sent the iphone texts that read: “If you found my phone please bring it back to jen’s house or I will have the police track it.” “Please bring the iphone to jen’s house because I can track the iphone through GPS” My friend jen also announced at the party that no one could leave until the phone was produced. Of course no one gave it up. We frisked everyone that left and everyone’s cars also. No phone.
I reported it to the police(it would take them months to find it). But the only way I would get it back is by knowing who took it. Stupid girl sent the wrong text to the wrong person and we now know who took it. Ha ha sweet revenge.
Moral of this story: If you did not install the apps before the iphone was lost. The only thing you can do is search for the phone physically or hope the police get it.
I lost my iPhone a week ago and did not have any of the above services. I tried calling it numerous times to no avail, so I ended up going to get a new SIM card and put it in my old phone, as I needed a contact phone. Does anyone know if I can still track the iPhone down? I have the serial/IMEI number and everything, and I would love to have the phone back. Many thanks, Don (in NYC).
I just had my iphone 3g3 stolen 3 days ago. I was unprepared for this and did not have any security gps tracking or password protection. I have terminated my service for that phone with ATAT. I have since purchased a new iphone. Even though it was an expensive learning lesson I would like my lesson to stop with the cost of the phone.
Moving forward:
I have changed the passwords liked to my e-mail and facebook accounts that were on the phone.
Does anyone have other suggestions of what I can do to limit the damage of my other person informationon the phone. (ie thinsg on teh e-mails accounts?)
I appreciate all the help,
Brian
my iphone was stolen about 5 to 6 months ago… i already have a different with but kan i still locate my iphone through the serial number??
okay so i had an iphone 3gS about a month ago and i had relized that i had activated the mobile me free trial but it had expired and didnt have the program no more i was wondering if i was to reactiviate the mobileme would i still be able to activate the phone even if it was restored?
I had my phone stolen this evening. Vodafone have cancelled the sim card and its no longer working and they have told me it will be blacklisted from tomorrow so cant be used. What does this mean?? I had my emails on this from hotmail, can they still access these??
Hi i have lost my iPhone, but im not really that bothered of getting it back, however is therre any way i can get all my contacts back from my iPhone? As all my contacts are very important to me.
Thanks
I had my phone stolen this evening. Vodafone have cancelled the sim card and its no longer working and they have told me it will be blacklisted from tomorrow so cant be used. What does this mean?? I had my emails on this from hotmail, can they still access these??
This is what im worried about most!
All my businesses are based online and yes i too have lost my iphone yesterday, IF the service providers lock the phone can they still view these mails ?
Someone please answer me for crying out loud
Theres an cydia app called findmyi it can locate multiple iPhones with one account you can lock the iPhone with a message and much more if you use it for free only the area near your iPhone will be shown but for $2 a month full tracking is enabled, also cylay from cydia is exellent you get 15 days free trial it will pinpoint your iPhone,forward SMS,send logs,disable power buttons, take pictures with your camera and gives you all info like battery power phone number ect.. Even wipe data commands Ive tested both and I cant fault either but with findmyi you can use the free service and if your device is lost just pay to use full features.
To Jason
change all your password for every email then non can be read anymore without the new passwords, I.e. The iPhone cant collect new mail from the server
I lost my phone on April 3rd. It was my fault really. I left it and someone else picked it up. I noticed 2 minutes later and used my sisters phone to frantically call and text. After 5-10 min the thief turned my phone off. I knew then that was the sign I wouldn’t see again.
Reading through all these posts….I guess I won’t be able to track it. I’ve only had that phone for 4 months…I guess the ppl that take it/ find it think they hit a MILLION bucks when the person who lost it lost everything in there…personal things…everything.
I just re-purchased another iphone and boy did it cost more then the first. I know I won’t get my first iphone back….but one thing I do know for sure…
KARMA is a B*tch!!!
to the thieves….enjoy your new found phone…..but expect karme to find you next.
*Bitter sweet…….miss my first iphone…..
AT&T is synonomus with the word “SCAM”!! I lost my iPhone and they told me there was nothing they could do except sell me another iPhone for DOUBLE what I paid for the first one! DOUBLE!! They told me I should have had MobileMe installed on my phone before I lost it. Another scam! That costs $100 a year! The greatest part is that I just found out that I could have signed up for the Family Map for FREE and found my iPhone for FREE!!! As long as you are on the Family Plan, the temporary password for FamilyMap is sent to all of the phones on the plan. All you do it sign on, and within 2 minutes, it locates the cell phone!! Please save yourself hundreds of dollars and do not buy another iPhone if lost. Just take 5 minutes outof your day and sign up for this easy to use program.
does this work for ipod touch
well where do i start,
1st, My iPhone was my life and it got taken away from me just like that.
2nd, How could someone even think about stealing a phone never mind anything for that matter.
3rd, i find out after paying £460 i realize that with this all new and great ‘GPS’ hardware that it can not be tracked, Don’t you find that disgusting!.
So i conclude that i am pissed off and that i am seriously thinking about stealing an iphone myself now, but knowing my luck i will be caught!
If you think i am just as bad as the thief well your proberly right but i need my iphone back or at least an iPhone!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are a few solutions out the DiskAgent is one that works for jail broken phones and it is reasonably priced (first month is free). If your phone is stolen you should ask your carrier to deactivate the IMEI so that it is not used on the network.
i lost (maybe been stolen) my i-phone. but the battery was low and now it’s probably not on. is there a service that can locate the phone if its off. please let me know anyone. thanksssss
Wow, iPhone people are stupid. Buy an Android phone and stop crying…
QWERTY,
I have to say that you are probably one of the most unintelligent sounding people I’ve ever come across. Go back and read what you wrote…you are hilarious, you sound like a total sissy and I hope you get caught stealing someone else’s iPhone, for your sake just hope it’s not mine. HAHA.
The fact that you’d be willing to put someone else through what you just went through shows what a gutless bag of crap you are, I don’t think I have to tell you what an inconvenience it is to lose your phone but maybe someone will remind you while they’re smashing your face in for trying to steal their’s.
If I were you I’d seriously consider going back and getting your GCSD’s or something, it might help you sound like a little bit less of a jerk off.
Hope you don’t make a habit out of posting stuff like that online too often.