What to do If your mobile is lost or stolen

Losing your phone or having it stolen is never fun. Your phone holds so much, like contacts, photos and apps, so the sooner you act, the better. Don’t worry though, we’ve put together a simple guide for both iPhone and Android to help protect your data and, hopefully, get your phone back 
 
Stay calm and assess
First things first, take a deep breath. Panicking won’t help, but acting quickly will. Try to remember the last place you had your phone and check nearby locations where it could be.

Use built-in tracking tools Apple (iPhone)
- Open Find My on another Apple device or visit iCloud.com/find
- Sign in with your Apple ID

Select your lost device to:
- Use ‘Play Sound’ to help find it if it’s nearby
- Use ‘Mark As Lost’ to lock your phone remotely and display a contact number
- Use ‘Erase iPhone’ only if you think you won’t get it back as a last resort.

Android
Open ‘Find My Device’ (google.com/android/find) on another device
Sign in with your Google account 
 
Select your ‘Lost Phone’ to:
- ‘Play Sound’ to make it ring even if on silent
- ‘Secure Device’ to lock it and display a contact number
- ‘Erase Device’ to wipe all data if recovery seems unlikely

Contact your mobile carrier
Notify your carrier as soon as possible. They can:

- Suspend your service to prevent unauthorized use
- Track calls or data usage on the lost device
- Help set up a replacement SIM card

Change your passwords ASAP!  
This helps prevent unauthorized access if someone tries to use your phone. To protect your accounts, update the passwords for:

- Apple ID or Google account
- Email accounts linked to your device
- Banking apps and payment services
- Social media accounts

Report the loss
You should report your lost or stolen phone to the police so there’s an official record. This can help if your phone is recovered and is often needed for insurance claims. You will need to provide the IMEI or serial number of your device. 

Back up your data
If you regularly back up your phone using iCloud or Google Backup, you won’t lose your photos, contacts, and apps. Make sure backups are up to date and ready to restore onto a replacement device.

Prepare for the future
Preparing for the future means you’ll be ready if it ever happens again. Setting up tracking, backups, and security now can save time, stress, and protect your data.

- Enable ‘Find My iPhone’ or ‘Find My Device’ in your settings
- Set a strong passcode or use biometric security
- Keep automatic backups turned on
- Consider phone insurance
 
Follow these tips, secure your accounts, and use the tools built into your device to protect your data. With a little preparation, you’ll be ready for whatever comes next and hopefully get your phone back without too much stress.