At the WWDC-2019 conference, Apple presented many interesting innovations. One of them was the new Latitude app for iOS, iPadOS and macOS. The program combines the capabilities of the Find iPhone and Find Friends services.
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The application allows you to find out the location of friends and family, transfer your data and find missing devices. In addition, Latitude now has an interesting offline search option. It allows you to find even devices that are turned off or in sleep mode.
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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.
Important – only works when connected to the Internet
Find My iPhone will only be able to locate your device if it is connected to the Internet. If the iPhone is offline, the map in Find iPhone will display its last known location and only for 24 hours. In order for an iPhone to play sound, activate Lost Mode, or erase all personal data, the device must also be online.
If your iPhone is not currently connected to the Internet, and you have enabled Lost Mode through Find My iPhone in iCloud, it will only be activated when the device appears online.
We really hope that our instructions were useful to you and will help you protect yourself from the loss of your iPhone, iPad and Mac computer or their unauthorized use in the event of theft. First of all, turn on “Find iPhone”, set a lock password in the settings of your iOS device , these simple manipulations will certainly help you in the future.
Looking for an iPad through another iOS gadget
To search for lost devices, Apple has released a special program called “Locator” (formerly “Find iPhone”). It shows on the map all devices linked to one Apple ID.
Allow iPad search in advance in the settings: “Settings” → Apple ID login → “Locator” → tablet name → “Find iPad”.
On mobile devices and desktop MacOS Catalina, Latitude is built into the operating system. On Windows, Android and other OSes it is available on the iCloud website (the “Find iPad” function).
Find My iPhone app
For the convenience of users, Apple developers have created a separate Find My iPhone program. The application is available for download from the AppStore and is distributed free of charge. The application implements all the capabilities of searching a smartphone, including geolocation on the map. The utility supports the Russian language, pleases with convenient navigation and a pleasant interface. The functionality is similar to the application in the browser; Apple users consider this versatility to be the most suitable option. Parents especially appreciate the program, since geopositioning on children’s iPhones reduces worries about their child’s whereabouts—this is important in big cities. And if you lose it, looking for a smartphone with the application enabled on another mobile device is much easier than digging through the grass or snowdrifts.
To get started, download Find My iPhone from the AppStore and find the program icon on your phone's home screen.
- When turned on for the first time, the application will prompt the user for authentication. Enter the password and username of your Apple iCloud account in the form that opens.
- Review the list of proposed application features and follow the recommendations.
With the application, the owner will see the location of connected devices and will also be able to control the activation of the function. The main thing is that the necessary smartphones are linked to one iCloud entry.
Search by serial number and IMEI
It is unlikely that you will be able to find an iPad using the serial number or IMEI on your own, but knowing these codes can significantly help in the search: most likely, if you contact the police, the serial number will be required when filling out an application.
- You can find your tablet's serial number on the Apple ID page in the "Devices" section. The same can be done from a linked iPhone: menu “Settings” → entry name → “Devices”.
- If you have the original packaging on hand, look for a white sticker with barcodes and the inscription “Serial No.” on it. For tablets with mobile Internet support, the IMEI identifier is immediately indicated.
- If the iPad is in place, the codes can be found in the Settings → General → About this device menu, seen when connected to iTunes, or read on the back panel.
Read more: where to find the serial number and IMEI of the iPad
Part 1: Set up Find My Mac
Of course, it's always a great idea to be prepared for anything that might happen in the future. So it's a great idea that you set up Find My Mac on your Mac just so that you'll still have the ability to find it if it ever gets stolen or lost.
To set up Find My Mac, simply follow the instructions below.
1. Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
2. Once you're signed in, go ahead and click on the iCloud panel.
3. If you're not already signed into iCloud on your Mac, enter your credentials (iCloud name and password).
4. On the right side of the screen, find Find My Mac.
5. Make sure there is a check mark next to it.
6. After that, click the “Allow” button.
This is it! Once your Mac is stolen, iCloud Find My Mac can help you find your Mac.
If the service is not needed
Perhaps you are reading this article not because you lost your iPad, but because you found yours, bought a tablet on the secondary market, or even received it as a gift and do not want it to be blocked. This may well happen during a reset or update. In this case, the device can no longer be used until the circumstances are clarified, and its activation will be blocked.
We'll tell you how to disable this feature and protect yourself.
Through settings
The simplest and fastest solution.
Open Settings - Apple ID - Find My and turn off Find My iPad. The system will require you to enter your Apple ID password. We recommend disabling other settings - “Enable offline search” and “Last geolocation”.
Disabling using iCloud
Sign out of your iCloud account on your device. This will erase all account data from the tablet, including photos and videos - but if you are going to continue to use the tablet, this method has a right to life.
Standard application
Check to see if you can access Find My through the iCloud website or iOS device. Then check if your iPad is visible in the app and in your iCloud account. Reconfigure the cloud immediately if you are in any doubt.
Unlock from any computer
Unlocking an iPad is as easy as locking it - if the device is yours and you have access to your account. On the iCloud website, again select “Find iPad” and the linked device, but disable “Lost Mode”.
Lifehacks
Sometimes the methods listed are not enough, and some data may be lost or forgotten. Fortunately, there are loopholes in such moments.
Unlocking if you lose your Apple ID
You can restore your lost ID through a special website - https://iforgot.apple.com/appleid. If problems arise, try contacting those who have used the device before and ask them for forgotten information.
Letter to technical support
This makes sense if you still have the purchase receipt or any other evidence that you are the rightful owner of the locked iPad. Apple technical support staff will be able to remotely unlock the device and reset the iCloud account on it. But get ready for difficulties.
What to do if the service does not turn off
If you have problems disabling the search service through the iPad itself, you can try doing it through a computer or completely deleting the active account and replacing it with a new one.
Erase device
- Make sure you follow the steps above in an attempt to recover your missing device—the next step cannot be undone.
- Open Find My and select the Devices tab.
- Select the device whose data you want to erase.
- Scroll down the screen and select Erase this device.
- Select "Erase this [device]"
If your missing device is covered by AppleCare+ with theft and loss coverage, you shouldn't wipe the device. Instead, file a stolen or lost device claim.
What happens if you erase data from your device?
To prevent unauthorized persons from accessing the data on your missing device, you can erase it remotely. Once you delete your device data (including credit, debit, or prepaid card information for Apple Pay), you won't be able to locate your device using Find My.
Third-party search programs
In addition to official functions from Apple, you can also use third-party programs to find a lost or stolen tablet. Like Latitude, they need to be enabled in advance.
Contact If Found
The simplest application that allows you to display information on a lost iPad. Not much different from the standard function, so the rating in the App Store is three points.
iHound
More advanced application. With it, you can try to find the location of the gadget if the “Find iPad” function was not enabled or did not work.
iLocalis
Old but functional application. It has a free version with which you can remotely control the device. It also includes geolocation tracking and alerts. Unfortunately, no new information about the program is available: most likely, it can only be installed on older iPad models.
Antiviruses
Most mobile antiviruses have theft blocking functions—some even allow you to discreetly take a photo of the “thief.”
For examples of antiviruses, see our review.
Additional Information
- Learn how to set up and use Find My [device].
- Find out what to do if your Apple Watch or Mac is stolen or lost.
- Get help if your AirPods go missing.
- Turn off Activation Lock on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Information contained in non-Apple products or on independent websites not under the control or testing of Apple is not intended to constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Apple is not responsible for the selection, functionality, or use of third party websites or products. Apple is also not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of data contained on third party websites. Contact your supplier for more information.
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Part 2: Protect your sensitive files and data on Mac
Here's some good advice for you. In any case, when you move your Mac to a public place, you must first protect all your sensitive data stored on it. You can do this by deleting them.
We highly recommend that you do this using iMyMac PowerMyMac's File Shredder. This is software that you can use to permanently delete files from your Mac. Once you have used this tool and your Mac is stolen, they will not be able to recover any data from it.
This will allow you to select all the files you want to destroy. It can also destroy multiple files at the same time. And the files you destroyed will be overwritten, so no one will be able to recover anything from your Mac. Here's how to use File Shredder.
Step 1: Download, launch iMyMac PowerMyMac and select the shredding option.
The first thing you need to do is download iMyMac PowerMyMac from the official website www.imymac.com. After that, install the program on your Mac.
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Run this. On the left pane of the screen, you will see a list of functions that PowerMyMac can perform. From this list, select Toolkit, then select Shredder.
Step 2. Select the file to be destroyed.
Click on the "Select File" button. The program will then show you all the files you have on your Mac. From these files shown on your screen, select all the files that you want to destroy.
Here, you will have the option to selectively select the files that you want to permanently delete from your Mac. You can also shred one file at a time if you prefer.
Step 3: Shred the selected files.
Once you are done selecting all the files you want to destroy, go ahead and simply click the Clean button to begin completely deleting all files from your Mac. Once this process is completed, you will not be able to restore them in the future.
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Part 5. What to remember
Report to the police
Once Find My Mac successfully detects your Mac device, you should contact a police officer. While you may think that you can get your Mac yourself, you should also consider that whoever took it will not return it to you so easily. So you need to go to the police and then let them go and get your Mac back.
Check your email
If in case the person who took your Mac dropped it when they stole it from you, they will most likely fix it by contacting an Apple service center. If this happens, Apple will send you an email asking you to confirm the repair. Once you receive this email, contact Apple immediately to let them know that your Mac that will be repaired belongs to you and has been stolen.
Take necessary precautions
We know that losing your Mac is a terrible thing that can happen to you and also losing all your data. That's why you need to backup all the data that you have saved on your Mac and then use iMyMac File Shredder so that you can permanently delete those files on your Mac. This way, all your sensitive data will not be accessible when your Mac is stolen.
Let's sum it up
Expensive devices from Apple are very often the subject of theft, so manufacturers have created a feature that, when enabled in advance, increases the chances of quickly finding a laptop if it is stolen or the owner has lost it. Each owner hopes for his own luck and that he will never become a victim of scammers, however, it is not recommended to neglect the available and reliable security measures for your laptop provided to the consumer by the manufacturer itself.
Install protection functions immediately after purchasing a product from Apple - this is a guarantee of safety for your device, as well as your protection from financial losses.
How to unlock MacBook
If luck smiled on you and, thanks to the installed function and the well-coordinated work of law enforcement officers, you managed to return the laptop without delay, then all that remains is to unlock the device and you can use it in the previous mode. To do this, you must enter the password you set on the screen.
Sometimes there are situations when the owner cannot remember the password set in a panic. In such cases, you will need to take the device and documents for it to a special Apple Customer Support Center, where specialists will help you unlock your MacBook.
