- You can track an iPhone using any iteration of the Find My app, which gives you the last known location of your iPhone.
- The Find My or Find My iPhone app is installed on every iPhone and iPad by default, and you can also access the feature through the iCloud website.
- Using a Find My app, you can track up to five Apple devices, including your iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch.
Thanks to the Find My feature (an iOS 13 combination of the apps Find My iPhone and Find My Friends), it's possible to know exactly where your iPhone is at any time — which is great for those occasions when you misplace your phone, but is even more critical if it's ever stolen.
And phone tracking isn't limited to your own iPhone. Using Family Sharing, you can check on the location of up to five important people in your life as well. If that prospect sounds a bit creepy, don't worry; everyone has to opt into this feature, so you can't track a spouse or kid without their permission.
Here's how to set up and use Find My and Family Sharing to track your iPhone, no matter which iOS version you have.
How to track your iPhone using the Find My app iterations
In iOS 13 or later
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name at the top of the page to open your Apple ID page.
3. Tap the tab that reads "Find My."
4. On the next page, tap the switch next to "Share My Location" so it turns green.
5. Tap the the "Find My iPhone" tab at the top of the screen.
Make sure to start sharing your location. William Antonelli/Business Insider6. On the next page, tap the switch next to "Find My iPhone" to activate it and reveal two more options.
7. Tap the switches next to "Enable Offline Finding" and "Send Last Location."
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How to log into iCloud on your iPhone with an Apple ID, to access and manage your iCloud account
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Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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