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?
This is worthless.
I lost my iPhone and i’m desperate to get it back, i’m almost positive someone has it and is keeping it.
I don’t have any of this installed in the phone so this is just plain worthless.
This isn’t worthless – you’re just mad because YOU lost your iPhone. How about looking in the mirror and asking yourself why YOU didn’t install one of these very worthy apps before YOU stupidly lost your phone. A device like that should be treated properly and that means NEVER losing it. But hey, this article is “worthless” right? Ha ha.
maybe they got it stolen like i did… thanks for bieng completly unhelpful.
stupidly? stop with the name calling. and if you are so perfect why are you reading this article?
GEEZ!! Why the smart manufacturers don`t develop and orinally install to the smartphone an application that could send us (recognized owner) a simple SMS with a very simple answer to a very simple question: what are is your locatio/coodinates now ? GEEZ!! Why anybody thinks about this possibility ? Why there is no interface between the cell phone O.S. software and the cell phone companies system to allow that ?
Al same here! ): Ive just experienced it last week i miss it ):i want my iPhone back ): did you have any luck finding it? its so pointless i haven’t either downloaded tracker app
if only i knew ):
same here! If you find a way to track one’s iphone (mine) withOut having pre-installed apps, please email me
hi, i read your comment and you said you can help locate an iphone without a pre installed app? emial me back either way. thank you for your time
same here i lost mine in school and i cant find it. i havent downloaded an tracker so its really hard for me to find it
wait, what if the iphone has been restored and all the memory is erased, do these methods still work
I tried above apps but it is expensive.
I found one app it named “OmegaSpy” comes from Omega Software LLC, it is very cheap. In particular, it has more quality (do not lose battery life, spy call work well, have more functions such as “Photo Log”, “App Usage Log”…)
Just post for compare…
here I got mine back. wrote an article in my blog.
http://mycollegelifeisabitch.blogspot.com/2011/10/tale-of-stolen-and-recovered-iphone-4.html
FamilyMap doesn’t work if the thief changes the Simm card.
My iPhone was stolen yesterday. I have MobileMe, but it hasn’t found my phone or been able to wipe it. Does it work if they remove the battery and/or SIM?
my white iPhone 3GS was stolen from the Cricket Amphitheater / Toby Keith Concert.
I just got a brand new screen protector for it, and it is in a blue silicon Lucky brand case.
I was unable to locate it yet but am hoping someone may help if found I have the serial number…. Please email if you have any information – REWARD will be offered!!!!
i lost my iphone 3 yestaday, it has a security code. am living in Nigeria pls how can i recover it?
Man you in Nigeria… that thing is long gone.
I have been using this great free app Tracesaver for couple months now, couple weeks back I lost my HTC phone thanks God I had the app installed before, so I was able to trace my phones whereabouts location.
is dere anything dat can help me tracking my i phone 4 n i don’t hv any app installed to track it…..?????
did anybody answer your question?
I lost mine too.. and I didn’t know such a thing like this even existed. ha.
Why can’t verizon or AT&T do it themselves?
No wonder. than they won’t make money.
how did you lose yours? and u still havent found it yet???
Dere? Dat? I’m amazed you’re smart enough to have a job that would pay you enough to purchase an iPhone! My God!
I had my iphon stolen from the Registry Office at 20 Dundas St. West, 4th Floor, Toronto on Friday, August 12th by a co-worker. If anybody knows who he sold it to or how I can get it back there is a reward.
I have lost my iPhone 4G can you help me track my phone with the serial number? if any one can Please contact me
@ mahran… did you get any luck finding your phone? some idiot stole mine, wont give it back ): i know how you feel
Latin guy stole my Iphone 3GS today in Down Town at 4.20pm. Pico and Union, from my hands!! I tried to fund but I was repoted to the Police and they said is impossible my Iphone back …I m furious!
Sure. Blame the Latinos! Next thing you know people will be blaming the Blacks!! Or the Smurfs! What What!?!?
I found and installed the best app on my phone, it’s so good that I want to share it with everyone. The app tracks my phone location; in fact it does much more than just tracks my phone!!!! It records my call history, signal strengths (so if what, I know how well my mobile network operator is performing) and much more. I recommended the app to all of my friends and family, because it’s great, I mean if I lose my phone I can track its location using tracesaver website. I can add as many phones to the same account and track them. I think this app would be so great for parents so that they could track their kids at all times…..as far as i know you can download the app on Blackberry, Android, Iphone and Windows phones. I’m telling you this application is really good, everyone should at least give it a go, trust me you will get addicted.
hey Rachel, that’s great! whats the app called? its too late for me, ): mine got stolen after college, i haven’t downloaded an app… cause never new about it.
do you know any other ways to track the iPhone when the tracker app hasn’t been downloaded? the thief picked up the call when i rang my number on the day it got stolen, they decided to prank me “/ its blacklisted now by the network provider. i miss it so much!:”( Ive got the iPhone box which got all the details of my iPhone would that help in anyway to track it down?
):
anyone else know how i could get it back?
someone please help! some ** thief took my iPhone last week, Ive managed to block the phone by my network provider, its got all my important info in it. ): got prank when i dialed my number so whoever got it obv don’t want to give it back ): Ive got all my iPhone details, imei, serial number, everything. would that help in anyway getting it back? stupid me didn’t download tracker app only if i knew there was one ): please help ):
@ SAIMA just lost my iphone today Sep 18….
i have my IMEI # i’m with AT&T can they wipe it clean…with the IMEI #
i just lost my white iphone 4 last week and now i had find my iphone cracked from cydia and if i would send a sms to my phone it would show me where it is n google maps but my phone has a simcard from a another country therefore it is blocked …….now i heard a rumour that you can find it by putting ur itunes account info onto some tracker and it will find all the apple devices that you have signed into but i cannot find that tracker can anyone help ….if someone finds the phone i will reward them , i tried getting my serial number from my local simcard provider and they told me the serial is on the iphone box but i threw the box ;/
i got a iphone apple in the street yesterday but i dont want to get back to the owners co’s im afraid plss help me what i will do now
you wouldnt happen to be in the pittsburgh area? I lost a phone the previous night.
I lost my Iphone last week. I know my IMEI number of the mobile. Is there any way to track the mobile knowing the IMEI number and with the help of the telephone network Service provider. I have not installed the tracker software. Can’t the network service provider track IMEI number of the iphone and track it?? HELP??
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA ASK THE SAME QUESTION? “I LOST MY IPHONE BUT DID NOT INSTALL ANY OF THESE APPS. CAN I GET IT BACK?”. The answer is the same for all of you. NO YOU CANNOT GET IT BACK !!!!!! The whole premise is that you install these apps BEFORE your phone is lost/stolen!!!!! GEEZ!! Is it that hard to figure out people????
@u r slow
I agree, I’ve had the iPhone 3GS and 4 now for three years and I had installed the app find my phone with MobileMe when it first came out. I was dumb enough to lose my iphone4 on the train but smart enough to track it when I got and lucky enough to get it back the next day. The train conductor found it and was actually driving home with it and not taking it to lost and found. He could not believe I was actually tracking his location. Smartest move I made was installing the app on all my iPhones in my household (3).
well now our i phones have been stolen so we are just trying tu find it instead of focusing on what we should have done
Hey, I think I may know who has your phone. I’m not even worried about the reward.
Hi all !
Last week my iphone was stolen ! I had 3gs present from my bro! i am very upset now , because i don’t have any app on in and i can’t use this apps to track it . Please if someone knows any solution to use any other way please contact me via email ! thanks! p.s ( I was thinik that my hotmail account syncs with iphone maybe can do somthing with this )
A girl at my daughters school stole her iphone right in front of an eye witness. The girl was confronted by other kids still denies it nomatter what. Shes a good liar for such a young age. Anyway I told the principal but it looks as though its not a high priority for her. It has been a few days no word yet. I guess thiefs just get away with stealing.
Hey, good news. I got the new iPhone 4S today and right in the setup it asks whether you want to turn on the find my iPhone feature. No more of wishing you had known.
hi! i recently had a friends friend give me an iphone to jailbreak, but she said she couldnt remember her pass…i m wondering, is it stolen?! if so what should i do? oh it is an older model before the 3gs, 8gb
I LOST MY PHONE OMGGG. Luckily I got the Find My Iphone app in my lost iphone. Now I’m hoping the guy who stole it will turn on the phone so that I can trace it.
Nice Article For Who Lost iPhone & To Recover It
Lost my iphone 4s 16gb
does anyone know how can i trace it?
thanks
my i phone 4 got stolen how can i find it???i mean haow can i download this program for tracking it down??
this is a real, I also lost a Iphone4, when i went taxi from the airport to go home. earlier, I had to install monitoring software omegaspy. so i just found out that the person taking my iphone as a taxi driverand I have regained iphone. The time track and get back less than 2 days
Lost my iPhone but cannot track it because didn’t turn on find my iPhone
I recently had my iphone stolen by a coworker. I had the GPS app but didn’t link it. I heard there is a new app that can turn a phone back on once it has been turned off. This would have been great to find my phone and suspect. Does anyone know what the app is?
I recently had my iphone stolen by a coworker. Knew who it was but couldn’t prove it. He immediately turned the phone off. I noticed it was taken immediately and had a friend call my number. I heard there is a new app that can actually turn your iphone back on once it has been turned off by someone. Anyone know what it is? (I had the GPS app but didn’t link it, won’t happen again)