If you’re an Apple user, you might have already heard of a built-in feature designed to protect your device if you lose it. ‘Lost Mode’ safeguards your Apple products and can help you find your iPhone if you’ve lost or misplaced it.
To help you secure your Apple devices, let’s explore what Lost Mode is and how you can use it to find your devices when in need.
What does Lost Mode do?
‘Lost Mode’ lets you lock your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or other newer model Apple device so that whoever has it can’t get into your personal information. Lost Mode also tracks the location of your device so long as it stays turned on and connected.
If your device is offline or its battery has died, don’t panic – Lost Mode will kick in if you’ve activated it when the device next connects to a network.
For Lost Mode to work, it needs to be turned on before the device goes missing, otherwise the security of your device might be compromised.
How to enable Lost Mode on your iPhone
To turn on Lost Mode on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Navigate your way to your iPhone Settings
- Tap on your name at the top of the screen
- Select “Find My”
- Turn on “Find My iPhone”.
If you’re on a MacBook, click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences”. Then, choose “Apple ID” and click the checkbox next to “Find My iPhone” to enable it.
How to activate Lost Mode on iPhone
Turning on Lost Mode can happen a few different ways. If you have another Apple device, open the Find My iPhone app and mark your iPhone as lost. Don’t have another Apple device? Jump on iCloud, log in using your Apple ID and follow the prompts to activate Lost Mode that way. If your device is offline at the time, you can choose ‘Notify me when found’ and Apple will email you when your iPhone is up and running again.
When you activate Lost Mode, you’ll be asked to create a custom message, add a phone number, and set up a passcode. Once you’ve successfully done that, Lost Mode is on.
How do you find a lost iPhone?
Once Lost Mode is active, you can track your iPhone or update the onscreen message or phone number from Find My iPhone on another Apple Device or via the iCloud website. When you locate your iPhone, you’ll need to switch Lost Mode off so you can start using your device again freely.
How do I turn Lost Mode off?
Now that your iPhone is safe in your hands, you can turn off Lost Mode by entering the passcode you originally set – either straight onto your phone or via Find My iPhone or the iCloud website. This passcode is different to your iPhone’s regular passcode, so make sure you don’t confuse the two.
How secure is Lost Mode?
Lost Mode is just as secure as any other part of the IOS system. Even if someone takes your Apple device into an Apple Store to unlock, Apple staff are trained to spot a stolen product and won’t unlock anything that seems suspicious.
Let the Geeks get you up to speed on your iPhone
We know a lot about Apple products, especially how to set them up and keep them secure. Give us a call on 1300 642 213 and put our Geeks on the case!
