📱lost or stolen phone - do these in order

Apple's official steps for iPhone plus Google's for Android, combined into one order. do this instead of panic-googling it at 2am.

Never miss an update

This list changes over time. Get a short email when it does.

At most one short email a week. Unfollow in one click.

Try to locate it first, before you do anything else

do this first, before locking or erasing. you lose the location once it's off or reset

Lock it remotely (Mark as Lost on iPhone, Mark as lost in Find Hub on Android)

Don't put your phone number in the lost message

Apple's own warning: a stranger could use it for social engineering. weird but noted. (learned this one late)

Change your Apple ID or Google account password, from a different device

Report it to local police

Call your carrier and report it stolen

ask them to suspend the line. some plans cover a claim here too

Do not remove the device from Find My / Find Hub yet

removing it kills Activation Lock, which makes it way easier to resell. leave it there until this is actually resolved

Erase it remotely, only once you've accepted it's not coming back

File the insurance claim if you have one

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss covers this on iPhone. check if your carrier plan has an equivalent

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

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