Technology

Find a lost phone that is off or dead

Published

3 months ago

November 29, 2025

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Losing your phone can leave you in panic mode, especially when the battery dies. The good news is that both Apple and Android offer built-in tools that help you track a missing device even when it is powered off or offline.

With an iPhone, you can use the Find My network on another Apple device or sign in from a browser. With Android, you can use Google’s Find My Device system to see the last known location and secure your phone fast.

This guide walks you through clear steps for iPhone and Android so you know exactly what to do next.

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YOUR PHONE IS TRACKING YOU EVEN WHEN YOU THINK IT’S NOT

You can still find your lost Apple device even when it’s dead. (Apple)

Does Find My work when your iPhone is dead?

Yes, it does. Your iPhone uses low power mode in the background so it stays findable for a period after powering off. If other Apple devices are nearby, your phone can still send out a Bluetooth signal that helps pinpoint the last known location.

You can check this location from any Apple device or a browser.

Use Find My from another Apple device

If you have an iPad, Mac, or another iPhone, you can look up your missing device in seconds. Family Sharing works too, so you can track a shared device even if it is offline. Here is how to do it:

Open the Find My app
Tap the Devices tab
Swipe up to see your full list of devices
Select your missing iPhone
View the location on the map
Tap Directions to navigate to it
Tap Play Sound if the phone is on and nearby

Steps to use Find My from another Apple device. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Turn on Lost Mode by tapping continue at the bottom of the screen to lock it and show a message with a callback number.
Enter a phone number that can be used when someone finds your iPhone and wants to contact you. Then, tap Next.
If the screen icon is black, the phone is dead. You will still see the last known location, so you know where to start looking.

Steps to use Find My from another Apple device. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Find your iPhone from a web browser

If you only have access to a computer or an Android phone, use iCloud.com to locate your device. The browser version gives fewer tools, but it still shows your iPhone on the map. Follow these steps:

Go to iCloud.com/find
Sign in with your Apple ID
Approve two-factor if needed

Steps to find your iPhone from a web browser. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Select All Devices
Choose your missing iPhone

Steps to find your iPhone from a web browser. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Use Play Sound if the device is on
Turn on Lost Mode to lock the phone

Use this method when you have no Apple hardware nearby.

Steps to find your iPhone from a web browser. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Use the Help a Friend feature in Find My

If you need to borrow another person’s iPhone, avoid signing in to their device directly. That triggers security checks you cannot complete without your missing phone. Instead, use Help a Friend inside the Find My app:

Open Find My on your friend’s iPhone
Scroll to Help a Friend
Sign in with your Apple ID
View the last known location of your iPhone

This tool bypasses two-factor prompts so you can get your location without any issues.

Steps to use the Help a Friend feature in Find My. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Can you find an iPhone without Find My

If ‘Find My’ was never enabled, you must retrace your steps. You can check ‘Your Timeline’ in Google Maps if you use that app and have location history on.

Without ‘Find My,’ there is no way to remotely lock, track, or erase the device.

Once you recover your phone, turn on ‘Find My’ and enable ‘Send Last Location’ so you are covered next time.

Best iPhone settings to turn on before your device goes missing

Before your iPhone ever goes missing, take a minute to set up these key protections.

1) Turn on Find My iPhone

This keeps your device trackable whether it is on or off. Go to Settings, then tap your name, then click Find My, then Find My iPhone and enable it.

2) Enable Send Last Location

Go to Settings, then tap your name, then click Find My, then Find My iPhone and scroll down and enable Sent Last Location.

Your phone will save its final location before the battery dies.

3) Turn on Find My network

Go to Settings, tap your name, click Find My, then tap Find My iPhone and enable Find My network.
This keeps your iPhone discoverable through nearby Apple devices even when it is off or offline.

4) Keep two-factor authentication on

Go to Settings, tap your name, tap Sign-In & Security, select Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), then tap your iPhone and make sure 2FA is turned on.
This blocks anyone from accessing your Apple ID without approval.

5) Use a strong passcode

Go to Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode, then enter your current passcode.
Tap Change Passcode and follow the prompts to set a unique passcode that is hard to guess.

6) Add a recovery contact

Go to Settings, tap your name, tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Recovery contacts. Then, click Add Recovery Contact.
Add a trusted person as your recovery contact so you can verify your identity if you ever lose your iPhone.

CAN’T FIND YOUR ANDROID PHONE? HERE’S WHAT TO DO TO TRACK IT DOWN

How to find an Android phone that is off or dead

Android users can also track a missing device using Google’s Find My Device system. While you cannot see live location when the phone is powered off, you can view the last known location, lock the phone, or display a message for anyone who finds it. Here is how to track it:

Find your Android from a browser

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Go to android.com/find
Sign in with your Google account
Select your missing device
View the last known location on the map
Select Secure Device to lock it and display a callback message
Select Play Sound if the phone is on and nearby

Find your Android from another phone

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Download the Find My Device app on another Android
Sign in with your Google account
Tap your missing phone to view its last known location

If the phone is off or dead, the map will show its last saved location. You can still lock the device or leave a message for whoever finds it.

Best Android settings to turn on before your device goes missing

Before your Android phone ever goes missing, take a minute to set up these key protections.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

1) Turn on Find My Device

This lets you track your phone or lock it from any browser.
Go to Settings, tap Security & privacy, tap Find My Device or Device Finders and turn it on.
(Names may vary by manufacturer.)

2) Enable Location Services

This improves accuracy and helps Google save your phone’s last known location.
Go to Settings, tap Location and turn on Use Location.

3) Turn on Google Location History

This allows Google to show past locations even when your phone is off.
Go to Settings, tap Location, tap Location Services, then choose Google Location History or Google Location Sharing and turn it on.

4) Add a recovery phone number or email

This helps you verify your identity and recover your account fast.
Go to Settings, tap Google, tap Manage your Google Account, then open the Security tab and add a recovery phone number or email.

5) Use a strong screen lock

Choose a secure lock to keep your data safe.
Go to Settings, tap Security, then Screen lock, and select a PIN, pattern, or password that is hard to guess.

6) Turn on “Send last location” (If available)

Some Android models save the phone’s last known location before the battery dies.
Go to Settings, tap Security & privacy, tap Find My Device and enable Send last location if your device supports it.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com

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Kurt’s key takeaways

A dead or powered-off phone does not have to stay lost. Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find My Device system both give you a last known location and fast tools that help you lock or secure your phone. With the right settings in place before anything happens, you can recover your device sooner and protect your personal data.

What would you do first if your phone went missing today? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Related Topics:Android Featured iphone mac personal tech Smartphones Tech

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Technology

Polymarket defends its decision to allow betting on war as ‘invaluable’

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Polymarket defends its decision to allow betting on war as ‘invaluable’

It might be World War III, but at least I won $20. | Image: Polymarket / The Verge

Polymarket has been allowing people to bet on when the US would strike Iran next. Obviously, now that it’s actually happened and people have died, the prediction betting market is feeling some pressure. The site has been at the center of controversy before, including suspicions of insider trading on the Super Bowl halftime show and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement posted on its site, Polymarket defended its decision to allow betting on the potential start of a war, saying that it was an “invaluable” source of news and answers, before taking shots at traditional media and Elon Musk’s X. The statement reads:

…

Read the full story at The Verge.

Technology

Google dropped dark web monitoring: Should you care?

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Google dropped dark web monitoring: Should you care?

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Google has officially discontinued its Dark Web Report feature, a free tool that once scanned known dark web breach dumps for personal information tied to a user’s Google account. The service delivered notifications when email addresses and other identifiers appeared in leaked datasets.

According to Google’s support page, the system ceased scanning for new dark web data Jan. 15, 2026, and the reporting function was removed entirely on Feb. 16, 2026, meaning users can no longer access the feature.

The company said the decision reflects a shift toward security tools it believes provide clearer guidance after exposure, rather than standalone scan alerts.

If you previously relied on the free dark web scan as an early warning signal for leaked data, this change removes one of your sources.

Google officially ended its Dark Web Report tool, removing free breach alerts tied to user accounts. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

So what did users really lose?

Google’s Dark Web Report acted as a basic exposure scanner. It checked whether personal information linked to a Google account had surfaced in known breach collections circulating on the dark web.

When a match is found, users receive a notification identifying which type of data appeared in a leak. Depending on the data breach, that could include an email address, phone number, date of birth or other identifying details commonly harvested during large-scale hacks.

The report did not display stolen credentials or provide access to the leaked database itself. It also did not trace the origin of the compromise beyond referencing the breached service when available.

After an alert was issued, the next steps were left to the user. Google recommended actions such as changing passwords, enabling stronger authentication methods and reviewing account security settings. With the tool now removed, that automated breach check tied directly to a Google account is no longer available.

What you still have access to

Google directs users to its Security Checkup, a dashboard that scans your account for weak settings and unusual sign-in activity.

Its built-in Password Manager includes Password Checkup, which scans saved credentials against known breach databases and prompts you to change exposed passwords. Google also supports passkeys and two-factor verification to lock down account access.

The Results About You tool lets users search for personal information in Google Search and submit removal requests for certain publicly indexed details.

149 MILLION PASSWORDS EXPOSED IN MASSIVE CREDENTIAL LEAK

Without the automatic scan, users must now check for leaked data using other security tools. (iStock)

Alerts don’t always mean protection

Once personal information is compromised, it often ends up far beyond the breach itself. Stolen credentials and identity data are regularly trafficked on underground platforms where buyers can search for information tied to real people.

The BidenCash dark web marketplace was taken down by U.S. authorities in June 2025, and the Justice Department confirmed that the platform peddled stolen personal information and credit card data.

These illicit markets operate with a level of organization not unlike legitimate online stores. Search tools and bulk data sets are up for grabs and can be used to target any online account. This makes credential stuffing easier, where attackers test leaked passwords across multiple services in hopes of barreling into your account.

A breach alert tied to a dark web scan points to a leak at one moment in time; it does not follow whether that information has been sold to third parties or used in subsequent fraud attempts. For everyday users, this means that just knowing your data appeared in a leak doesn’t help much.

THINK YOUR NEW YEAR’S PRIVACY RESET WORKED? THINK AGAIN

Stolen personal information can circulate for years, making ongoing monitoring more important than a one-time alert. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Identity monitoring may be a better option

With Google’s scan gone, some people may consider dedicated identity protection services instead. Many of these services offer continuous monitoring of your personally identifiable information and send alerts about changes to your credit reports from all three major U.S. credit bureaus. That can include notifications about new inquiries, newly opened accounts and monthly credit score updates. Some plans also monitor a broader range of personal identifiers, such as driver’s license numbers, passport numbers and email addresses.

Beyond credit monitoring, certain services track linked bank, credit card and investment accounts for unusual activity. They may also monitor public records for changes to addresses or property titles and alert you if your information appears in those filings.

Many providers include identity theft insurance to help cover eligible out-of-pocket recovery costs. Coverage limits vary by plan and provider. Additional features often include spam call and message protection, a password manager, a virtual private network (VPN) and antivirus software.

No service can prevent every form of identity theft. However, ongoing monitoring and recovery support can make it easier to respond quickly if your information is misused.

See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Google’s decision to drop its Dark Web Report may seem small. But it removes a tool many users relied on. For some, those alerts were the first warning that their data appeared in a breach. That automatic scan is now gone. Google still offers Security Checkup, Password Checkup, passkeys and two-step verification. However, none of them actively scan dark web breach dumps for you. Stolen data does not disappear. Criminals copy, sell and reuse it. One alert shows a single moment. Ongoing identity theft monitoring helps you stay aware over time.

Now that Google has dropped its dark web monitoring feature, will you actively check your data exposure or assume someone else is watching it for you? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Technology

Xiaomi 17 is a small(ish) phone with a big(ish) battery

Published

19 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Xiaomi 17 is a small(ish) phone with a big(ish) battery

Xiaomi has just given a global launch to two of its latest flagship phones, the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra, along with a Leica-branded Leitzphone edition of the Ultra. There’s no sign, however, of the 17 Pro, which launched in China with an additional display mounted next to the rear cameras.

The 17 and 17 Ultra will apparently be available soon in the UK, Europe, and select other markets. The 17 — pitched as a rival to the likes of the iPhone 17 and Samsung Galaxy S26 — will cost £899 / €999 (about $1,200), while the larger and more capable Ultra starts from £1,299 / €1,499 ($1,750). The limited-edition Leitzphone will be substantially more expensive at £1,699 / €1,999 ($2,300), though it includes 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, along with a few extra accessories.

I like the simple, sleek aesthetic of the phone.

Photo of Xiaomi 17 homescreen on a wooden table outdoors

The 6.3-inch display isn’t tiny, but it does make the phone small by modern standards.

All three of the phone’s rear cameras are 50-megapixel.

The 17 is an extremely capable small-ish flagship, with a 6.3-inch OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and large 6,330mAh silicon-carbon battery (though sadly smaller than the 7,000mAh version launched in China). I won’t be writing a full review of the 17, but did spend a week using it as my main phone, and found that the battery cruised past the full-day mark, though wasn’t quite enough for two full days of my typical usage. That’s far better battery life than you’d find in similarly sized phones from Apple, Samsung, or Google.

The cameras impress too, with 50-megapixel sensors behind each of the four lenses, selfie included. Pound for pound, you won’t find many better camera systems in any phone this size.

1/10

I’ve been largely impressed by the Xiaomi 17’s cameras.

The Ultra, unsurprisingly, takes things to another level. It’s much larger, with a 6.9-inch display, and weighs a hefty 218g. Despite that, the 6,000mAh is actually smaller, though I found it delivered pretty similar longevity.

Photo of Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra on a table, closeup on the cameras

The 17 Ultra is larger in just about every respect, but strangely has a smaller battery.

The enormous camera is, as ever for Xiaomi’s Ultra phones, the highlight. There are 50-megapixel sensors for each of the main, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, with a large 1-inch-type sensor behind the primary lens. The periscope telephoto is even more impressive: 200-megapixel resolution, a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, and continuous optical zoom from 3.2x to 4.3x, the equivalent of 75-100mm. Xiaomi isn’t the first to pull off a true zoom phone — Sony’s Xperia 1 IV got there first in 2022 — but the telephoto camera here is far more capable than that phone’s, with natural bokeh and impressive performance even in low light.

Photo of Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leitzphone outdoors

This is the Leica-branded Leitzphone version of the 17 Ultra.

The camera capabilities are supported by Xiaomi’s ongoing photography partner Leica, but it’s the pair’s Leitzphone that really emphasizes that. Slightly redesigned from the 17 Ultra Leica Edition that was released in China last December, this includes Leica branding across the hardware and software, a range of Leica filters and shooting styles, and a rotatable rear camera ring that can be used to control the zoom. It’s the first Leica Leitzphone produced by Xiaomi — after a trio of Japan-only Sharp models — and comes with additional branded accessories, including a case with a lens cap and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Xiaomi has plenty of other announcements alongside the 17 series phones at MWC this year, including a super-slim magnetic power bank, the Pad 8 and Pad 8 Pro tablets, and a smart tag that supports both Google and Apple’s tech-tracking networks.

Photography by Dominic Preston / The Verge

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