I lost my iPhone. How to track it offline and how to remotely delete some files there?

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Level 1

5 points

I lost my iPhone. How to track it offline and how to remotely delete some files there?

Hello everyone.

First of all, thank you for taking time reading my concern and really i hope you could help me.

i lost my iphone X and im using my old iphone to use “Find my Iphone” to find it. I played a sound, tap “Lost Mode” and typed my phone number with a message, hoping the finder could see it on lock screen and eventually return it back to me. Unfortunately, my iphone got turned off by someone who found it and i only have its last location during the last minute my iphone was online.

Is there any other way i can track my iphone even if it’s offline or turned off?
I am concern if the person who found it could unlock my phone and check all my photos and apps inside my phone before he/she will do anything else. Is there a way that i could delete my photos and some apps in my lost phone?
If i would tap “erase iphone” from “find my iphone” app, or if the finder would enter multiple random PINs that would erase all my data, will it include deleting the apps that i downloaded to my iphone? Or just the photos/contacts?

PLEASE HELP.

Thank you very much,

JS

iPhone X

Posted on Aug 13, 2019 11:26 AM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Aug 13, 2019 11:30 AM in response to aljune26

No there isn't. Only Find My iPhone.
If you had a passcode on the screen, the person could not unlock it, especially since you put it in Lost Mode.
If you tap erase the phone, then you will no longer be able to track it. You can do that if you are that concerned about your data, however at that point, you will never get it back. Do not remove it from iCloud, and at least Activation Lock will prevent them from being able to activate the device.

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Answer 2

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Aug 13, 2019 10:47 PM in response to aljune26

The person who may have your phone now, as long as you you have not removed ir from your icloud account, can't activate the phone for their own use.

If they erase the phone to remove your passcode, they will be stopped during the mandatory activation step by Activation Lock/Find My Phone.

They can't get to the stage where they can jailbreak the phone. They can't compromise your data.

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Aug 14, 2019 2:57 PM in response to aljune26

If it has stayed offline all of this time, then it will no longer appear on the map unless it is turned on. Is it still in Find My iPhone, just not on the map? It should remain in the list of your devices, but it won't appear on the map because of the amount of time that has passed. Also, if the thief has attempted to restore that phone, that will wipe the data, but as LACAllen has said, Activation Lock will stop them from going any further. Your data is wiped but the phone is locked to prevent them from activating it. At that point, it will no longer be trackable.

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Answer 4

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Aug 14, 2019 4:44 PM in response to aljune26

As I said, after 24 hours of no connection, the device will no longer show the last location, unless it is connected to the internet again.

The device would be trackable if it is connected to the internet. Until it is, it will just appear in the list of devices.

If the device is restored, then they will no longer be able to see the Lost message. See this support document about lost/stolen devices. If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen - Apple Support

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Aug 13, 2019 9:33 PM in response to aljune26

Unless they know the passcode, it isn't going to matter. They won't be able to get in, and if they attempt too many times, the device gets disabled.

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Answer 6

aljune26 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 13, 2019 12:26 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Hi Chris,

thank you so much for your infromative reply.

i thought a passcode option still appears by just swiping up the lockscreen even if i put it in lock mode (I saw a video in youtube) which got me really concern in case the person would do it.

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Answer 7

aljune26 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 13, 2019 10:29 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your feedback.

I just wish I can still track the phone even if it is offline or worst, turned off/battery is drained. I guess apple hasn't developed this option yet to iPhone users. But mostly I wish the person would just return it to me. This is depressing...

What is the percentage that the person could "jailbreak" my lost phone with these tutorials available online? are these effective? can they actually outdo apple's security?
Can I update the lock screen message? will this updated message appear on the actual phone?
In case the person successfully opened my phone and uses his own iCloud account, will I still be able to track my phone while he is using it? is the apple's tracking depends on iCloud Account or the phone itself?

Thanks Chris

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Answer 8

aljune26 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 14, 2019 12:43 AM in response to aljune26

Hi everyone,

Just for an update about my lost phone, it's been 24 hours since it got lost and for the last 24 hours, I can still see its the last location in the map before it got offline. I was just staring at it and never moved.

And now, I checked my find my iPhone app, I can no longer see it in the map!... What does this mean? I did not remove nor erase my device...

Will it ever show up again?

-JS

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Answer 9

aljune26 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 14, 2019 4:01 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

During the first 24 hours, my phone still shows its last location in the map and also the last minute (9:24am) before it was disconnected. The icon in the map shows the phone model inside a gray circle.

Yes, the device is still in Find My iPhone. Just no longer showing in the map this time. Im guessing this means the device is no longer trackable..?

Will my message with my phone number still appears on the lock screen even if they a restore the phone? I’m still hoping that if they ran out of options in attempting to use my phone, the last thing they would do is to call me to return my phone.

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Answer 10

aljune26 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 13, 2019 11:03 PM in response to LACAllen

Hi LACAllen,

Thank you very much for your info. I'm glad that at least my data is secured.

I just hope the person still have a kindness in his/her heart to return my phone.

Regards,

JS

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I lost my iPhone. How to track it offline and how to remotely delete some files there?

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