Lost Mode - useless when Location disabled, even online ?

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Level 1

10 points

Lost Mode - useless when Location disabled, even online ?

Hi,

My iPhone was stolen by a (not so close) friend !

I went last week to a party. Only close and casual friends. At some point we talked and compared some apps between our

phones, I locked/unlocked mine several times, in front of the others, they did the same. However, after some time, everyone of us has been engaged in other activities 🙂

At some point I received a call on my other iPhone, and I went outside to be able to understand each other, because it was a pretty loud party ;-)

Anyway, I left my primary iPhone (for business) on the table.
When I came back, surprise, my iPhone was missing. Naturally, I suspected a joke or a prank for one of my closest friends. To not embarrass myself, I just tried to use Find my iPhone and see the state of the missing device.
It was Offline, probably the thief turned it off. I think it was one of us which, when playing around with apps, he saw my LockScreen code when I tapped it to unlock the phone.

I left the party. after a while, I tried again Find my iPhone.
Surprise again ! The iPhone was Online but Location Services Off. I tried to put it in Lost mode, but without phone number and

message, just to locate, not to alarm the thief. Result was the same, "Online. Location Services Off "

After one day, no matter how many times I tried, the thief (probably knowing that I have unlimited plan) continued to use my phone and it appears the same, "Online. No Location Available" (on iCloud, on Web Browser window) and "Online. Location Services Off" on Find my iPhone app , on my other iPhone.
My business phone was iPhone 4S, with iOS 6.1.6 (last iOS 6 update). I didn't upgraded iOS on this one because I needed a quicker response when I receive important calls or updates, mail documents etc. And, indeed , it worked like a charm !

So not being able to locate and get back my iPhone, I was forced to erase it (at least I hope it was erased OK). As a result, I couldn't locate it anymore.

Thanks God I had nothing compromising, or business sensitive on that phone! I changed, anyway, all my mail passwords, deleted from iCloud all my reminders and notes etc. Good Bye, good old iPhone !

I have to mention again, I have unlimited plan, voice and data traffic, so I was not afraid of higher payments, but I thought I should go to the telephone company and request a detailed list of calls after I lost it, maybe I could find a clue, with police help, of course. But I initially thought and trust it would be a breeze to find my iPhone with iCloud, Find my iPhone, Data Roaming, unlimited data traffic if, eventually, it would be lost.
And I'm absolutely sure I have all of these services active, all my iDevices have the same security settings.

But, to be absolutely sure, I tried the same thing on my other (personal, non business) phone. iPhone 4S, iOS 8.1.1, this time.
So I double-checked all security settings I could and deactivated only Location Services, from Privacy.

Results were absolutely identical ! Even in Lost Mode, my only left iPhone was impossible to be found via iCloud (Web Browser) or from my iPad, no matter how many times and what I tried, after switching off Location Services (again, GSM/3G/Cellular/EU Internet - active - unlimited data plan), Data Roaming On, WIFI On, only Location Services disabled from Privacy settings.

( My only big mistake, I think, was to reveal and use my Lockscreen code in front of my friends. But I thought we are all friends, why wouldn't ?)

I tried even to put my iPhone outside to have a clear view to satellites for GPS. No change !

And a major issue (or forgotten maybe, extremely simple feature) is still to not being able to change Lock screen

code/Password, once it was set already no matter what iOS is installed (6-7-8...)

So, the big Question remains the same. What is the (REAL) utility of Find my iPhone app/Service, when, just switching

off Location Services, even Lost Mode can't remotely enable it ? Contrary to what Apple claims.

What should I do in the future to avoid a similar situation ? What I missed/messed ?

Please help me to understand, anyone who can help me and really knows what he/she's talking about. I'm sick of suppositions, and neverending questions/ideas off topic.

Thank you !

Below are some pictures taken during testing Lost Mode on my only (now) iPhone:

Started "Find my iPhone" on Web Browser, I switched off Location Services on my iPhone :

Until now, everything's OK, as expected.

As advertised, Lost Mode rest assures us that will enable (temporary) Location Services, until unlocking:

To be sure it's a working data link, I tested "Play Sound", worked OK, then entered a number and message for testing purpose

Starting/activating Lost Mode...

Lost Mode activated with success, Location Services not. Still, my iPhone locked and displays 1234 call

and the message "This iPhone has been lost. Please call me".

I even put my iPhone outside, under clear sky, for 15 minutes, still nothing new on iCloud.

Of course, after unlocking my phone (Lost mode deactivated automatically), but still nothing (normal, in this case, without Lost Mode) and turning back ON Location Services, my iPhone was magically found 😉 . I even received a notice on mail, claiming my iPhone was found near my actual position 😝

Here are my screenshots with my iPhone with all data services on, being locked on purpose.

So, what's wrong with Lost Mode, why it doesn't do what it should ? What I'm doing wrong ??

Please help me understand. Thank you !

P.S. I found yesterday that my phone was bought by someone identified by the police. They asked me what I want to do. I asked buyer's name, it's nobody I know, I let him in peace, no further complains. I moved on... but disappointed by claimed features in iPhone (regardless iOS 6-8) which are not working at all

(at least for me)...

P.P.S I had to remove some pictures (warned when trying to post - to many images)

iPhone 4S, iOS 8.1, Lost Mode doesn't enable Location

Posted on Dec 12, 2014 3:18 PM

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Answer 1

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 13, 2014 12:20 AM in response to pogster

I kindly appologize, I've got a lot of frustration remembering the whole situation and posting right after testing to replicate that situation again was not a good move for me, I admit 😉 Sometimes it's better to have someone telling you to chill out a bit ... Thanks for your attitude, was a little but welcome lesson ;-)

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Answer 2

Apr 30, 2017 7:43 PM in response to adisturbed

HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS EVERYONE... NOT EVEN SURE IF THE QUESTION WAS ANSWERED... HOWEVER

WHEN YOU ENABLE LOST MODE, THE IPHONE LOCKS THE SCREEN AND YOU KNOW IT TRIES TO TRACK IT. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH SIGNAL TO TRACK IT.

THE CATCH IS, IF THE PERSON KNOWS YOUR PASSCODE, AS SOON AS YOU ENABLE LOST MODE AND THE IPHONE IS LOCKED, THE PERSON USING YOUR IPHONE WILL SIMPLY ENTER THE PASSCODE (BC THEY'RE USING IT) AND THEN YOUR IPHONE WILL NO LONGER GIVE LOCATION SERVICES....

the best way to go about this is to 1. do not leave a message for the thief to read, that will alert them and perhaps turn the phone off until they can get it completely erased

2. when you enable lost mode if your location services are on, don't enter a message or phone number, the screen will just go off and when they press the home button it will show them the passcode screen. if they don't know your passcode then great! your phone begins tracking. IT WILL NOT DISPLAY A LOCATION IF THE THIEF KNOWS YOUR PASSCODE AND IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKS YOUR PHONE USING THE PASSCODE.

3. IF THAT IS THE CASE, continue to place the phone in lost mode alllll day... eventually they'll either turn it off (hopefully not right..) or theyll sit the phone down..go to sleep, go to work, take a nap,... whatever. and you'll have time to track the phone and hopefully find it..

GOOD LUCK HOPE THIS IS UNDERSTANDING

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Answer 3

pogster

Level 5

5,123 points

Dec 12, 2014 3:35 PM in response to adisturbed

iCloud: Find My iPhone overview

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen - Apple Support

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Answer 4

razmee209

Level 10

198,942 points

Dec 12, 2014 3:39 PM in response to adisturbed

if location service is turned off then you won't be able to track it.

If you thieve powered off the phone or but it in airplane mode, you wouldn't be able to track it using find my iphone.

That is how it works.

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Answer 5

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 12, 2014 3:44 PM in response to pogster

Trust me, I checked everywhere I could, on forums, Apple support etc. I found nothing as a response to my question: why Lost Mode doesn't enable Location Services even it clams it does. iPhone being Online, not shut down (battery depleted or on purpose), so with good connection to internet. As you saw, I tried to replicate all the condition I could with my other phone and I get the same result.

Of course, probably forgot to mention, Find my iPhone service, "send last location:, iCloud services, long passwords, all double checked ;-)

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Answer 6

pogster

Level 5

5,123 points

Dec 12, 2014 3:52 PM in response to adisturbed

Show me a link where it says Lost Mode will enable Location Services.

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Answer 7

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 12, 2014 5:02 PM in response to pogster

Thanks for your reply,

If you read or, at least, LOOK at the pictures I posted you'll see, just after pressing Lost Mode it's saying you that, even Apple Claims that:

"If your device is online when you put it in Lost Mode or lock it, it locks and tracking begins (if applicable). If Location Services is turned off on the device, it’s temporarily turned on to track your device’s location."

iCloud: Use Lost Mode

And they claims the same for ALL iOS last versions since iOS 6 (since they introduced Lost Mode)

And yes, my phone which I still have, and the lost one, were both Online.

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Answer 8

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 12, 2014 5:14 PM in response to razmee209

It shouldn't work like that.

Apple says contrary, even when you press Lost Mode, the following message appears :

"Lost mode enables Location Services. Find my iPhone and other apps will be able tu use the location of this iPhone until it's unlocked".

Pretty clear to me and tested but No Location detected by Find my iPhone/iCloud. At the other hand, if you looked at the pictures I posted, you'll see on my testing iPhone the little arrow which indicates the Location Services were started in Lost Mode. Just not detected in iCloud/Find my iPhone/Lost Mode. So, useless or not functioning properly (at all, in fact). Why ?

And, from the Apple support page (the link is below)

"If your device is online when you put it in Lost Mode or lock it, it locks and tracking begins (if applicable). If Location Services is turned off on the device, it’s temporarily turned on to track your device’s location."

iCloud: Use Lost Mode

And they claims the same for ALL iOS last versions since iOS 6 (since they introduced Lost Mode)

And yes, my phone which I still have, and the lost one, were both Online, so it could transmit location data, during Lost Mode, just it doesn't happens.

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Answer 9

pogster

Level 5

5,123 points

Dec 12, 2014 7:55 PM in response to adisturbed

adisturbed wrote:

I'm sick of suppositions, and neverending questions/ideas off topic.

If you read or, at least, LOOK at the pictures I posted you'll see

I was asking for the link so I could read the whole article rather than a snippet. But at the risk of asking too many questions I'll stop here.

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Answer 10

pogster

Level 5

5,123 points

Dec 13, 2014 7:42 AM in response to adisturbed

If the issue is the way its being worded then my suggestion is to contact Apple and bring it to their attention. http://www.apple.com/contact/

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Answer 11

Dec 13, 2014 7:50 AM in response to adisturbed

Mine worked exactly as described when I tested it. If yours did not, there may be a fault with your device. Since you've recovered the device, get it checked out by Apple.

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Answer 12

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 13, 2014 10:13 AM in response to pogster

Thanks for suggestion, I'll try that route but I'm a bit skeptical they'll offer support for a non U.S. customer, for a product more than three years old. I live in Romania. On the other side, maybe, the subject is more about a service than a product, I tested today the same story on my son's iPhone 5S, different network , same results.

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Answer 13

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 13, 2014 10:20 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

Mine too, until I deactivate Location Services.

What intrigues me, on my (other) personal iPhone I have iOS 8.1, tried to replicate the whole story , deactivated Location Services on iPhone, starting Find my iPhone (web browser, iPad, iPod touch) and, after pressing Lost Mode, even iPhone is locked right away and shows the Location Serv. arrow in status bar (which means Location active), Find my iPhone still is unable to locate my phone. That's what I don't understand, why Find my iPhone can't locate my iPhone (which is online, by the way, otherwise could not be locked, play sound , display messages etc) when I put it on Lost Mode.

Just a (scary) question, but not without a reason. It seems I've got some talent on losing iPhones by now, I lost already 3 😁

On the other hand, when Location is turned on on my iPhone, I can locate it between a few seconds and 1 minute max. So, only when I deactivate Location Services on my iPhone, I can't locate it, even when put in Lost Mode, while the phone is locked down immediately, being online. Find my iPhone, in Lost mode says "Find my iPhone could not determine this iPhone's location"

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Answer 14

adisturbed Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 14, 2014 5:24 AM in response to adisturbed

I tried on my other account with iPad mini Retina, iPod Touch and my phone. Same thing. Tried on my son's account with his iPhone 5S, different GSM network. Identical behavior. Find my iPhone works perfect as long Service Location is activated on the targeted device.
If deactivated on device, even Lost Mode became useless, cannot locate target.
Oh, forgot to mention, regardless iOS version (6.1.6, 7.x, 8.1, 8.1.2)
That means if I loose the last iPhone I have and, somehow, the thief sees my Locksreen code, I'm screwed :-) Because it seems you cannot change Lockscreen code if you already have one on device. Also, doesn't matter the connection type to internet neither, GSM, 4G/LTE, WIFI only etc. But, as I said, the Location Service became active on every single device (the little arrow on status bar) when Lost Mode is pressed, all other function of Lost Mode works flawlessly ( sending a text and phone number, Play Sound, Locking device), only it seems Find my Iphone cannot receive Location Data. That's confusing me. And I'm good on loosing iDevices - 3 iPhones, 1 iPod Touch, 1 iPad 2 (everywhere, in taxi, in train, at restaurant, at party etc) until now - lol ! One more thing ;-) Can this be related to network operator rather than Apple services ? My network operates only from 3G up (4G/LTE). Still, I called customer service at my network provider and they assured me not blocking any signals, communications inside the GSM/4G/LTE network. That's all I know. Problem not solved, the question remains the same - Why Lost Mode cannot detect Location Service on the targeted device?

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Answer 15

Jun 26, 2017 12:11 PM in response to adisturbed

Did you get your phone back? How did the police handle it? Just wondering.

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