What functions exist to find a lost iPad?

Apple spends millions of dollars and a lot of time developing security systems for its own smartphones. The iPhone is protected by a password, an identification system and other locks. A stolen iPhone is difficult to unlock and prepare for use by someone else. But despite all the precautions, smartphones continue to be lost or stolen, and then sold on the black market.

A hot search or a statement to the police rarely produces results. Therefore, users have a question about how to find an iPhone by IMEI.

Search iPhone by imei

It is difficult to find an IFOM by name (it is necessary to have a number) if its battery is discharged. However, the latest version of the developed operating system has the ability to search for such devices. It is enough to have a number.

Before turning off, the iPhone sends a message to a number indicating its current location. To do this, just activate it immediately after purchasing the phone.

iPhone search apps

If iCloud didn’t help for some reason or you want to try another mobile app, we recommend trying these apps:

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

iLocalis

Conditionally free application. Its basic version is quite enough to determine the location of the smartphone and find it. Unlike iHound, with iLocalis you can't receive audio notifications as you get closer to your iPhone. However, from the application you can send SMS or make calls through the built-in program.

Purchasing a premium version will allow you to block the possible removal of the application from your device and will give you other “tricks” - deleting a backup, recorded audio messages, iPhone-lock, etc.

Location accuracy is good, but sometimes iLocalis can err on the street. Overall, it is a good application that provides the necessary functionality for free.

iHound

A similar application, but with several key differences: you cannot make calls or send SMS from it, but you can enable the mode of sending sound signals that will be displayed as you get closer and closer to the lost iPhone. Works faster than other applications thanks to streamlined optimization.

Disadvantages include the ill-conceived location display design and operation only through the built-in Dashboard Security application. The downside is that you have to pay for iHound in any case; the subscription costs 4 bucks a month.

Bottom line, iHound is a good replacement for other services if you need to find your phone as quickly as possible without contacting other people. You can cancel your subscription if necessary.

Contact if Found

A free application that operates purely on the social component. The principle of operation is simple - if you lose your smartphone, you can lock it and create a text notification that will be displayed on the notification screen.

The effectiveness of this method is questionable, especially if your smartphone is stolen - the criminal is unlikely to listen to you and give your iPhone back. But, if the phone was lost by accident, you can try. Moreover, they do not necessarily require a reward from you for finding it.

Reward if Found

It works almost the same as the previous application, with one difference - you must indicate the amount of reward that the person will receive if they return your iPhone. The recommended amount starts from $10, but you can specify any reward.

Via satellite

Many people are sure that you can find an iPhone by imei using a satellite receiver, but this is a myth. Such an option simply does not exist, since the device is not paired with it.

From a theoretical point of view, a cellular operator can help you find an iPhone through imei (you must have a number). However, this occurs in several situations:

• the owner has activated a certain service with his operator, which makes it possible to track the location of the phone in a registered personal account or through a ussd request;
• Law enforcement agencies received a request and issued a request to the mobile operator to find the iPhone using imei.

Help: this option of searching by imei via satellite for free is not considered effective, which is confirmed by numerous reviews.

Find My iPhone app

Find My iPhone can also help you find your stolen iPad. It has similar functionality as iCloud:

• you can find the location of your iPad,
• if necessary, you can delete information,
• You can also change your password,
• You can send a request for the gadget to be returned to you.

Video about how the “Find My iPhone” application works:

In those devices that are activated in the account, determining your location will not be difficult. But sometimes there are situations when this may not work. Here are some examples:

• the tablet is turned off,
• no internet connection,
• "airplane mode" enabled
• location detection is turned off,
• All your information has been erased.

If you are lucky and everything works, you can easily use the “Find iPhone” function.
If the lost or stolen iPad has a location module (GPS), then the accuracy will be very high. But if it so happens that your “tablet” does not have GPS or is broken, you will have to use mobile towers. And then only if you have a SIM card module. If this is not the case, then only Wi-Fi remains. It is definitely available on all Apple devices.

Using another smartphone

An alternative way to check your gadget is to use another similar smartphone. In this case, you need to create a request using iPhone geolocation.

In this case, there may be several options:

1. when activating the option of sharing information within a family, it is enough to use the gadget of one of the relatives (it is necessary to have the number of the lost device);
2. if the option is disabled, you need to log in to the application downloaded on our website using your personal IPhone serial number.

Help: activated lost mode makes it possible to quickly find an iPhone absolutely free.

To start

Do not panic

The best thing to do if you lose your device is not to worry. Even if it's expensive. Even if you are afraid of punishment from your boss or parents. Emotions will only waste time and nerves - and if the device is really stolen, you need to react quickly and without mistakes.

Lock your device

First of all, lock your iPad remotely. To do this, go to icloud.com and log in to the Apple ID account that was used on the iPad. Select Find My iPad, then Lost Mode. The tablet will be “locked” with a password.

Change passwords for important accounts

Changing passwords is unlikely to help find the loss, but it will protect personal data that could fall into the hands of attackers. Perhaps the new owner has already picked up or “tracked” the password to your corporate account, Yandex, YouTube, social networks, bank card or something else. Or even worse - all the passwords turned out to be the same or very similar to each other.

Via computer

It is possible to find an iPhone by imei on a computer. To do this, you need to use a specially designed ICloud website with GPS navigation.

Help: if the search function was disabled on the phone before the theft or theft, trying to find it will be useless.

How to check the location of a smartphone via iCloud - just follow a simple procedure:

• Go to the official website.
• Entering your personal Apple ID phone number.
• Open a specially designed search section.
• Enter personal search parameters.

It is worth paying attention to the color of the icon in the list:

1. green – iPhone online;
2. gray – the gadget is not connected to the network.

In the first case, just click on the iPhone and get acquainted with its current location. In the case of a wide radius display, you need to wait - the final location has not been determined at the moment.

It is extremely important to try to find an iPhone by imei within the first 24 hours. If you delay this, there is a high probability of losing contact with him, and, as a result, the inability to determine the location.

Find My iPhone feature

It is recommended to configure this option immediately after purchase. Activation steps:

1. Turn on the "Geolocation" button in "Settings" or on the top working panel.
2. In “Settings”, click on iCloud → turn the “Find My iPhone” switch to “on”.

Now, if lost or stolen, you can determine the location of your smartphone using a special program on your computer. On your PC, go to iCloud and launch the application. If the gadget is at this time in a place where the network and Internet are available, the estimated location will be indicated on the map. iCloud also allows you to remotely erase personal information and block access to folders.

True, attackers try to disable this option first, so you should hurry with determining geolocation. To make things more difficult for them, lock the keyboard and menu access with a personal password.

How to spot a fake

When purchasing an iPad, you have the opportunity to check the device for originality. Regardless of the method, when purchasing second-hand or in a large store, it is recommended to take a number of measures to ensure that the device is original.

First of all, you need to inspect the box from the device and the device itself. Apple equipment is supplied in cardboard boxes sealed in plastic packaging. The box must contain the model name, information about the device - imei, serial number and other specifications. If the box is in the original film, you should also make sure that the seals that hold the lid are not broken. Of course, the device does not always fall into the hands of the buyer in a packaged form, since stores have to put the devices on display.

In this case, checking the iPad begins with examining its appearance. The assembly of Apple devices is of the highest quality; if there are rough edges, oblique connections or strangely shaped buttons somewhere, then it is a fake.

The next point is that Apple has always used its own connectors for charging and synchronization. In older models this is a wide option; in modern models it is the so-called Lighting, a narrow connector similar to microUSB, but with the ability to insert the plug on either side. Apple has never had any USB or microUSB, if something like that is in a device that is given away for little money or simply sold second-hand, then this device is clearly not licensed.

Important! You should pay attention to the SIM card slot. Apple only supports one SIM, and if the user finds a slot for two SIM cards or a memory card, then this is a clear sign of a fake. In this case, you don’t have to inspect the equipment further and don’t check it by imei. The device is guaranteed to fail the test.

After a visual inspection, you should log in to the system - when purchasing in a store, the device should not be activated. Apple considers the warranty from the moment the tablet is activated, and not from the moment it is sold, so there is a ban on turning them on in stores, even for demonstration. Of course, if the device is not new, it will be turned on. In this case, we carefully look at the OS - it should always be its own iOS; Apple does not provide any Android or Windows. In addition, all menu items must have a high-quality translation without Chinese characters and strange symbols.

If a visual inspection shows that everything is in order, there is no need to stop there. Ahead is checking the iPad by serial number or name, which gives a 100% guarantee of its authenticity.

What is IMEI

IMEI is the unique identification number of a mobile phone. It consists of 15 digits and does not change when the number is changed. IMEI is flashed into the phone's memory and stored there forever, so changing it is very problematic. In some countries, this process is criminalized, which is why there is no need to experiment with changing this number. IMEI is tied directly to the phone. It is transmitted to the cellular network as one of the equipment identifiers.

If the device supports two SIM cards, then there will be two IMEI numbers, not one. Thus, cellular networks track the correspondence between IMEI and phone number. All this allows you to remotely block equipment and search for lost or stolen telephones (at least in theory).

To find out the IMEI of your mobile phone, look under the battery or dial *#06#. It is also indicated in the warranty card and on the packaging.

Report your device as missing

Even if you lose your device, keep your information safe. Use the Mark Lost feature to remotely lock your device with a passcode, display a message on the lock screen with your phone number, and track your device's location.

The Mark Lost option is available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Using the Mark as Missing option

1. Open Find My and go to the Devices tab.
2. Select your lost device.
3. Scroll to Mark as Lost and select Activate.
4. Click Next, then enter your phone number to display it on your lost device's display.
5. Click Next. If you wish, you can leave a message for the person who finds your device asking them to contact you.
6. Click "Activate".