‘Find My iPhone’ is a handy application available from iCloud.com, that is used for tracing your iPhone or iPad if it is lost or misplaced.
If your device goes missing, you can put it in ‘Lost Mode’ immediately. This feature will then display where your device is and allow you to track where it’s been. You can immediately lock your device and send it a message with a contact number. Then whoever finds it can call you from the Lock screen without accessing the rest of the information on your device.
To set it up follow the instructions below;
To add a device
- Sign in to iCloud.com or use the ‘Find my iPhone’ app to see your missing iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac on a map.
- Open Settings
- Tap on iCloud
- If you aren’t signed in already, enter your Apple ID and password (your iCloud credentials)
- Turn on the toggle for “Find My iPhone”
It’s that easy. You will be prompted to turn on Location Services if it is inactive.
Handy Tip; Activation Lock is designed to prevent anyone from using your Apple device. If you ever lose your device, it will start working the moment you turn on “Find My iPhone’. From then on your iCloud credentials will be required before anyone can turn this feature off, erase your device or reactivate it.
Deleting a device or remote erase.
Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re worried that your device has fallen into the wrong hands, you may want to initiate a remote wipe to delete your personal data and restore your device to it’s factory settings. Note that Find My iPhone will continue to display your customised message even after the device has been erased. And if you do retrieve your device, you can restore it from your iCloud backup.
Removing a device is easy when you delink the device. This process is as simple as turning off the switch from Settings → iCloud.
But if you do want to completely remove the device from your iCloud account, follow the steps below:
- Open a browser and go to http://icloud.com
- Sign in to your account
- Click on “Find My iPhone”
- Click on All Devices and then select the device you want to remove
- Click on “Remove from Account”
This will remove the device from your account.