Is there a way to find my iPad just using the serial number?

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Level 1

8 points

Is there a way to find my iPad just using the serial number?

So a few months ago, I was in California visiting my dad and I had brought my iPad with me. One day after getting to his house, I was so tired that I left my iPad in his car. The next morning, I went to get it and it wasn’t there. After looking all over the car for it, I called Apple to see if they can locate my iPad and they just told me my iPad needed to be connected to WiFi to be able to find it. My iPad wasn’t connected to WiFi so I was bummed out about it.

Posted on Jan 29, 2018 3:25 PM

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Answer 1

FoxFifth

Level 10

475,407 points

Jan 29, 2018 3:51 PM in response to SC_99

See the following from If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen - Apple Support

Find My iPhone is the only way that you can track or locate a lost or missing device. If Find My iPhone isn't enabled on your device before it goes missing, there is no other Apple service that can find, track, or otherwise flag your device for you.

And the device needs to be powered on and connected to wi-fi (if it doesn't have cellular) in order for that to work.

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Answer 2

Jan 29, 2018 5:01 PM in response to SC_99

Remote tracking requires an internet connection - that’s how the device and the servers communicate and for the device to send its location information to a service you in turn can connect to and see it. Your serial number is not anything that any Apple system tracks.

When you enable iCloud’s find my iPhone, you create a secure trusted and encrypted connection between Apple’s servers and your device. Unless that was already set up before it goes missing, there is no way to remote track it. If it is powered off, the battery has drained or for any reason cannot connect to the internet, then it cannot be tracked.

Was your car not locked? Do you have any kind of content clauses on your auto insurance policy?

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