Affiliate Disclaimer People always lose something, even expensive things, like for ex. iPhone. And it’s ok when it’s turned on, and you can ping it with Apple Watch or call on it from the other phone, but how to find a lost iPhone that is turned off?
Keep calm, it’s possible. But there are some “buts”. It’s possible to know only the last location of your iPhone saved before it turned off. Besides, this only works if you have Location History turned on. Most people have this feature turned on by default, but if you don’t, then you won’t be able to use this method to find the last location of your turned off iPhone.
In addition to the above methods, third-party tracking services can help locate a lost or stolen iPhone, even if it is turned off. These services use a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower triangulation to track the location of the device.
*If you suppose that your iPhone has been stolen, start by contacting the police. Prepare IMEI number of your iPhone that you can find on iCloud or on your phone’s brand package. If it’s covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you can sign in with your Apple ID and file a claim for an iPhone replacement.
So, on behalf of HeyLocate, I tested various methods to locate my iPhone 12 running iOS 16.4.1 when it was turned off. I tried using the Find My app from my iCloud account, Google Maps, and other third-party tracking services to see if I could locate my iPhone. In this article, I will go through my findings and share the most effective methods on how to find a dead iPhone.
Does Find my iPhone work when the phone is dead?
To verify whether Find My iPhone could locate a turned-off device, I turned off my iPhone 12 and used my partner’s iPhone 12 to access the Find My app, since my device was linked to his app. The app showed the last accurate known location of my iPhone.
The iPhone uses its remaining power to communicate the location data before shutting down. It can send its last location to Apple’s servers using the “Find My iPhone” feature. This location is stored in iCloud and can be accessed through another Apple device with the same iCloud account or via the Find My app.
This means that if you check to Find My iPhone shortly after the device has been turned off due to low battery, you may still be able to see its last known location.
However, there are a few important caveats to keep in mind:
- in order for Find My iPhone to work when the phone is turned off, the Find My iPhone, Find my network and Send last locations should be toggled on by default;
- the phone must have been connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network at some point before it was turned off. This is because the location data is only updated when the device is connected to a network;
- this works with all iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 models running iOS 15.
So, does Find my iPhone work when the phone is dead? The answer is yes. However, it’s important to keep in mind the limitations of the service and to take steps to protect your device and ensure the location services and Find My feature are enabled in the settings app.
Go to iCloud.com
iCloud.com is a great option to locate a lost, dead iPhone. To test this method, I first visited the website and signed in with my Apple ID and password. Once I was logged in, I clicked on the Find iPhone icon and navigated to the devices tab on top of the screen. There, I selected the device that I wanted to locate from the list of devices associated with my account.
Once I did that, I was presented with a map showing the last known location of my iPhone. I was able to zoom in on the map to get a more detailed view of the location.
While this method only shows the last known location of the iPhone before it was turned off, it can still be helpful in narrowing down the search area.
It’s also important to mention that this method enables you to remotely lock your lost Apple devices by selecting “Lost Mode.”
Read also, how to find a lost iPhone without Find My iPhone:
Check Location History on Google Maps
Google Maps is an incredible tool that can be used to locate your iPhone when it is dead or offline. To start, I went to the Google Maps website on my computer and signed in with my Google account. Then, I clicked on the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner to open the menu and selected “Your Timeline”. From there, I was able to see a map with all the places I had visited, including dates and times.
I scrolled through the timeline to find the date and time when I last had my iPhone with me. I was able to see the specific location on the map and even zoom in to see details like nearby businesses and streets.
This was the easiest method and was really useful to me since it showed all the places I had been to, which gave me an idea of where I might have lost my phone.
However, it’s important to remember that this method only works if Location History is enabled on the lost phone. Additionally, the accuracy of the location history can be affected by factors like poor GPS reception or weak cell service.
Track dead iPhone With Tracking Apps
Many tracking apps store location history, so you can see the last known location of your or other’s iPhone if it’s connected to such app. Of course, this method doesn’t help if you have already lost your iPhone, and it turned off, but you should know this way to prevent such losses in the future.
Besides, you can use such apps as family trackers to stay in touch with your loved ones and be ready to help each other in any situation.
mSpy
mSpy is a popular monitoring software that allows individuals to track the activity on their children’s or employees’ mobile devices. The software allows the user to access various features, such as call logs, text messages, social media activity, and GPS location.
Price:
$48.99 per month.
User Experience:
The mSpy tool for iPhone can function by either jailbreaking the device, local syncing, or by logging in with the iCloud credentials. I chose the iCloud credentials option. This method required me to provide the target device’s iCloud credentials, which were my iCloud credentials for my iPhone 12.
mSpy then synced the data from my iPhone to the mSpy online portal. However, the software can take long, sometimes you have to wait for 24 hrs for all data to sync including location data. Once synced, mSpy can track the device’s location using GPS technology and provide a detailed map view of its past location, including the coordinates and past and present location. The data is updated every 24hrs.
Additionally, the app offers a range of advanced features such as remote control, app blocking, and keylogging to enhance the monitoring experience. Overall, the mSpy app for iPhone provides a comprehensive solution to find a dead phone by providing past location data. However, for location tracking of a lost phone, it can be tricky since the location feature takes time to update and sometimes may not sync.
Phonsee
Phonsee is a mobile monitoring service that offers cell phone tracking for both iPhone and Android devices. With Phonsee, users can remotely monitor the activities on a target device, including text messages, call logs, social media activity, and even location.
Price:
$42.51 per month.
User Experience:
To use Phonsee to find a dead phone, I created an account on the website and then, I received the welcome email with detailed instructions for the final setup. However, I did encounter a minor issue during the setup process and needed some assistance. Thankfully, Phonsee provides 24/7 customer support, so I was able to reach out for help right away.
Once the app was installed, I was able to use the tool to find a dead phone, by navigating to the GPS location feature. Phonsee provided me with detailed location information including their real-time location, timeline, and coordinates. The tool also provided real-time updates to help me stay informed about any location changes of the target device.
Phonsee also offers other features such as call logs, text messages, and social media activity monitoring. Overall, my experience with Phonsee was great. The app provided me with comprehensive information on the target device’s location, and the customer support team was always available to assist me with any questions or issues.
According to my experience, I recommend Phonsee to anyone looking for a reliable and effective mobile monitoring solution and checking the last location details for a lost phone.
XNSPY
XNSPY is a mobile monitoring software that allows users to track and monitor the activities of a target device remotely. The app can be installed on both Android and iOS devices and provides a range of monitoring features, including call logs, text messages, emails, and GPS location tracking.
Price:
$35.99 per month.
User Experience:
While I was pondering on how to find an iPhone that is dead, I came across XNSPY, which helped me retrieve the phone’s location history logs. Initially, I created an account and selected to monitor an Apple device, which was my iPhone 12. XNSPY gave me detailed guidelines on how to link the phone, which took some time since the instructions were somewhat technical and required careful adherence. Nevertheless, I was able to finish the process.
Upon logging in to my dashboard, I opted for the GPS location feature, which provided me with comprehensive data on the phone’s previous locations, including addresses, dates, times, and even a Google Maps view of each site. However, the address wasn’t clearly stated on the tool, but thanks to the Google Maps view, I was able to get a better idea of the location.
Furthermore, XNSPY presents other practical features such as call and message tracking, social media monitoring, and access to media files on the targeted device. These features could offer more insights into the phone’s activity and potentially aid in finding the device.
In my experience with this app, XNSPY proved beneficial in locating my dead phone by providing me with its last known location.
Hovervatch
Hovervatch is a software designed to help parents keep their children safe online. With this software, parents can monitor their children’s online activity, and receive custom alerts when something is amiss. It also includes GPS tracking, which can be helpful for parents who want to know their child’s location at all times.
Price:
$42.69 per month.
User Experience:
As I was searching for ways on how to find a dead iPhone without Find my iPhone, I decided to try Hovervatch software. After purchasing the service, I created an account and followed the setup process provided on the Hovervatch website. Though the process was a bit technical and took some time to complete, I managed to link and sync my iPhone data to my Hovervatch account before my phone was off.
To locate my dead iPhone using Hovervatch, I navigated to the GPS location feature on my Hovervatch dashboard. This feature provided me with real-time location updates, such as the address, coordinates, and date/time stamps. The address provided was unclear, but the coordinates and Google map view were useful in narrowing down the phone’s location.
It is also worth noting that these updates may be delayed by up to 24 hours, but the tool is still helpful in tracking the phone’s past location before it is dead or offline.
Hovervatch also offers other monitoring features, including text message and call tracking, social media monitoring, web browsing history tracking, and more. If you need to locate a dead missing device or monitor your child’s online activity, Hovervatch is a great option to consider.
uMobix
uMobix is a software for monitoring mobile devices that allows users to track and monitor the activity of a specific device. It provides various features, such as monitoring calls, text messages, and social media activity. One of the most notable features of uMobix is its ability to track the GPS location of the target device.
Price:
$49.99 per month.
User Experience:
So, I tried using uMobix as well to locate my dead phone. First, I signed up for the service and selected the option to monitor an iOS device. uMobix then provided me with installation instructions, which I followed closely to ensure the successful syncing of my iPhone data.
After completing the linking process, uMobix began sending my iPhone data to the uMobix Control panel, where I could view my phone data and access various features, including the GPS location feature.
I was able to track the location of my iPhone before the battery died. It provided location coordinates, dates, and times, and even a map view of the past location. However, the exact address was unidentified.
Nonetheless, the tool also offered coordinates and a Google Maps view, which helped me narrow down the phone’s location. It also makes the update after every 5 minutes, but you can also select an interval on when the tool can make the updates.
In addition to location tracking, uMobix offers other remote monitoring features such as viewing call logs, text messages, browsing history, and even accessing the device’s camera. Overall, I found uMobix to be a comprehensive service for device monitoring and location tracking, making it a helpful tool for tracking an offline iPhone.
Cocospy
Cocospy is an app that has gained popularity for monitoring phones. It enables the user to keep track of the activities of a target device, including GPS tracking, call monitoring, and text message monitoring. Using GPS tracking, the user can see the real-time location of the target device.
Price:
$49.99 per month.
User Experience:
I utilized Cocospy to trace the whereabouts of my friend’s deceased iPhone. First, I signed up for a Cocospy account by submitting my email address and completing the registration process, which only took a few minutes. However, syncing the iPhone data was slightly complicated and required careful adherence to technical steps, but I managed it with the assistance of Cocospy’s customer support available 24/7.
Once the iPhone data was synced, I accessed the Cocospy web dashboard to begin monitoring my friend’s device. The GPS location tracking feature on Cocospy was particularly useful as it provided previous location details such as dates, times, and even a Google map view. Although the address was undefined, the app offered coordinates and a Google map view, which helped me locate the possible location of the phone.
Apart from GPS tracking, Cocospy also provides monitoring features for social media activity and calls. The location updates are available every 24 hours, which makes Cocospy a helpful tool for tracing the previous location of a dead phone and potentially aiding in its recovery.
Read also, how to track someone when their location is off:
Conclusion
If you’re convinced that your phone has been stolen, or you don’t think you’ll ever find it again, contact your mobile network operator or service provider and report the loss or theft of your phone. They may be able to assist you in tracking the phone or blocking its usage. Check Apple instruction for such cases.
Otherwise, there are a few ways to help you locate a lost iPhone, even if it’s turned off. Find My iPhone is a powerful tool that can locate lost or stolen devices, even when they’re turned off or the battery is dead, as long as the phone has been turned on and connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network at some point before it was turned off.
After we tested it in practice, iCloud.com and Google Maps are also helpful tools that can show the last known location of the iPhone before it was turned off.
Additionally, third-party tracking services such as uMobix, XNSPY, and Cocospy can be useful in tracking the location of the device. To prevent future losses, it’s recommended to enable location services and to use family tracking apps to stay in touch with your loved ones and be ready to help each other when searching for missing devices or in any other security situation.
FAQ
Yes, it is possible to find your iPhone if it’s dead, using your iOS device IMEI number. Find My app can also show the last known location of your device before it is turned off, and there are also third-party location tracking apps that provide location history logs that can help locate a lost dead iPhone.
If you have an iPhone that supports iOS 15 or later, you can use the Find My feature to locate the device for up to 24 hours after it has been turned off, but this feature must be enabled on the device.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to track your phone if the battery is dead. However, you can use GPS tracking apps, and Find My to locate the phone’s last known location before its battery was dead.
In case you haven’t activated iCloud on your iPhone, you can use you can contact your mobile carrier to see if they can track its last known location. Another option is to check your Google Timeline if you have location history enabled on your iPhone. This should allow you to view your device’s most recent location information.
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