A lost phone could cause a lot of damage as it usually consists of your passwords, pictures, or some other sensitive information that you can’t share with anyone.

Sources :- Phone is Lost or Stolen , search-yellow

It is essential to protect all the information and data to avoid any misuse of it. Below mentioned are the tips to follow if you’ve lost your phone or if you haven’t, you still are advised to follow the same to steer clear of any stress.

Precautions to Take Before Losing a Phone

You all must stay alert and active to keep away from losing a phone. It could happen with any of us. Below mentioned are the precautions you must take if you have your phone and might risk losing it at some time.

1. Set a Password
   
   

Set a password to your phone that someone couldn’t crack easily. Setting an easy or regular password is the biggest mistake as anyone can try and unlock your phone.

To set a password on an Android:

1. Go to ‘Settings.’
2. Click on the ‘Security’ button.
3. In the ‘Device Security’ tab, click on ‘Screen Lock.’
4. Pick the type of screen lock you’d prefer – For example, Pattern, Passcode, etc.
5. Type and confirm the new password.
   
   

Note: Settings may vary for different Android phones.

To set a password for an iPhone:

1. Go to ‘Settings’ from the home screen.
2. Select ‘Face ID & Passcode’ or ‘Touch ID & Passcode’ depending upon the model.
3. Click ‘Turn Passcode On’ and set the password for your phone.
4. If your phone supports Face ID or Finger Lock, set the same for double security.
5. Set ‘Find my Device’ or ‘Find my iPhone’
   
   

This helps you trace and locate your phone if lost. Keep these settings on to save yourself from regrets later. To turn on the settings for Android:

1. Go to ‘Settings.’
2. Click on the ‘Security’ button.
3. Tap on ‘Find my Device.’
4. Turn the slider on for the same.
   
   

To turn on the settings for an iPhone:

1. Go to ‘Settings’ from the home screen.
2. Tap on your Profile name on the top of your settings menu.
3. Click on the ‘Find My’ option.
4. Select from the multiple settings, you want to keep.
5. Note down your phone’s IMEI
   
   

Most likely, there’s a chance that the one who steals your phone or finds it will keep the option for selling the phone, wide open. Thus, you must note down your IMEI if this happens, and you’ll be able to recognize your stolen phone.

To turn on the settings for Android:

1. Click on the ‘Settings.’
2. Find the option ‘Your Phone’ and tap on the same.
3. Details of your phone will appear in this section. Note down the IMEI of your phone.
   
   

To turn on the settings for an iPhone:

1. Tap and open the ‘Phone’ app.
2. Dial ‘*#06#.’
3. The IMEI of your phone will appear.
   
   

Tips to Follow After You Lose Your Phone

Sometimes you leave your phone somewhere and leave. You’re most likely to get your phone back if you go and look for your phone immediately. If your phone wasn’t set up with the settings mentioned above, you can still save your phone and all the data in it by following the tips below, which will help you either get your phone back or protect its data.

1. Call on your cell or leave a message
   
   

There’s a chance that your phone slides under your sofa or sheets and you think that you’ve lost it. Before taking any other steps, call on your cell phone to see if it’s ringing somewhere around.

There could be another chance if someone who found it, might want to return it, but cannot access your phone due to passcodes. That someone can still answer your call and cooperate.

• Play a Sound on your Lost Phone
  
  

You can play a sound on your lost phone to see if it’s somewhere near you. The settings for an Android are:

1. From any browser, search for ‘android.com/find.’
2. Next window will ask you to sign in to your Google account. Do the same.
3. Select your device and tap on ‘Play Sound.’
   
   

The settings for an iPhone are:

1. From any browser, search for ‘iCloud.com/find.’
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Select your device and tap on ‘Play Sound.’
4. Locate your Device
   
   

If you turned on the settings for ‘Locate my Device’ before you lost the phone, you’ll be able to track your device via GPS. The settings for an Android are:

1. From any browser, search for ‘android.com/find.’
2. Next window will ask you to sign in to your Google account. Do the same.
3. You’d be able to see the location of your device if it’s turned on.
   
   

The settings for an iPhone are:

1. From any browser, search for ‘iCloud.com/find.’
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. You’ll be able to see the location of your device if it’s turned on.
4. Notify your Carrier
   
   

You must notify your carrier to put down your calling services. If, by any chance, the one who has stolen your phone is able to get through all the security, suspending your carrier won’t let anyone access your contacts via call or messages.

• Erase all the data from your Device
  
  

If you’re sure about not getting your lost phone back, you may officially erase all the data from your phone to avoid any misuse of the same. The settings for an Android are:

1. From any browser, search for ‘android.com/find.’
2. Next window will ask you to sign in to your Google account. Do the same.
3. Select the device you want to delete the data from and tap ‘Erase Device.’
   
   

The settings for an iPhone are:

1. From any browser, search for ‘iCloud.com/find.’
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Tap on ‘Erase iPhone,’ and all the data on your phone will be deleted.
   
   

Note: If there is any chance you could get your phone back, ensure having a backup instead of erasing all the data as it’ll be permanently lost, once you do it.

Abigail Smith is an inventive person who has been doing intensive research in particular topics and writing blogs and articles on search-yellow and many other related topics. He is a very knowledgeable person with lots of experience.