A lost phone or ordinary device
- Do not attempt to unlock it or look through it. In many jurisdictions that is an offence regardless of your intentions.
- A locked iPhone will often display an owner message on the lock screen if Lost Mode is on. Emergency call screens can also reveal a medical ID contact.
- Hand it in, to the venue, the driver, the transport operator or the police. This is both the most useful and the safest option.
- If you cannot hand it in immediately, leaving it powered on helps the owner locate it.
A tracker that is not yours
This is a different situation and needs different handling. A tracker found on your own belongings or vehicle may indicate that someone is monitoring you.
- Do not destroy it. It may be evidence, and an AirTag's serial number can be traced to the account that registered it.
- Do not confront anyone you suspect.
- Photograph it in place, then contact the police.
If there is any chance this involves an ex-partner, a family member or anyone who has been controlling or threatening, get advice before you act. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. In the United Kingdom, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. If you are in immediate danger, call your emergency number.
A tracker on something that is not yours
If you find a tag on a shared or borrowed item, the likeliest explanation is entirely innocent, the owner tagged their own property. Ask them before assuming anything.
Related methods
If this was not the situation you are in, one of these probably is.
- What to set up before you travel, Prevention
- How to help someone else find their phone, Method
- How to find your phone when it’s on silent, The silent phone problem
- How to find a phone with a dead battery, When it is off
- How to find something you left at the gym, Method
- Last-seen map for your devices, Map tab
- How to find a lost Tile tracker, One to three years depending on model
- All how-to guides, the complete list
Common questions
Should I turn off a phone I have found?
No. Leaving it powered on lets the owner locate it and lets Lost Mode display their contact message.
Is it illegal to keep something I found?
In most jurisdictions, keeping property you know belongs to someone else can constitute theft. Handing it in is both the safe and the correct option.
In the app: This is what the app is built for. Read about Bluetooth Scanner.