I recently had a really tough experience while traveling alone in an unsafe area. My unlocked iPhone was stolen, as well as my locked iPad. I rushed back to my accommodation to try and use my MacBook to lock my iPhone, but I didn't know its serial number, which complicated things. To make matters worse, the thieves managed to lock me out of my Apple account and changed all of my Gmail passwords. Because of this, I lost quite a bit of information and access.
Looking ahead, I want to be better prepared. If my iPhone is stolen again while traveling, I want to know how I can shut it down quickly using my MacBook once I'm back to my hotel. Is there a solution for this?
2 Answers
First off, make sure you have a passcode on both your iPhone and iPad. This is the simplest way to prevent unauthorized access. If your iPhone is on the latest iOS version, enable the stolen device protection feature. This will prevent thieves from making significant changes without Face ID, plus it adds a delay for certain actions. Just remember, this doesn’t apply to iPads. You can also secure your apps, like Gmail, by enabling Face ID authentication.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn off a stolen phone from your MacBook. However, you can put it in Lost Mode by signing into your Apple ID at iCloud.com. From there, you can also erase the device remotely. Removing any access to your accounts is crucial, though. If they’ve changed your passwords, you’ll need to go through account recovery to regain access. Make sure you have a passcode set for future trips, as this is a must to stop thieves from getting in your phone.
Yeah, you can actually activate Lost Mode from any computer using the Find My feature without needing two-factor authentication. Just a heads up!