What to Do if You Find Someone's iOS Device - Apple Club |
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If you have found someone's iOS device, you probably want to make a good faith effort to locate its rightful owner. This article will outline some steps you can take to find them.
Look Under "My Info"
If you can get into the device (if it is not protected with a passcode), then go to the home screen, then go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > My Info. Then press the home button to go back to the home screen, open the Contacts app, and find that contact name. You can use the contact information listed there to try to get ahold of them.
Ask Siri
Most iOS devices are protected with a passcode, so you might not be able to get into Settings or Contacts. If the device is connected to the Internet, you can try holding down the home button to talk to Siri, and say "whose iPhone is this?" Siri will then pull up the contact information for the owner. Not all devices are compatible with Siri. You can find a list of compatible devices in Using Siri.
Lost Mode
You might also try waiting a few days. If the owner just recently lost their device, it may take them a little while to discover that it's missing. When they do, they can use the Find my iPhone app to place their device in Lost Mode. When they do, they will be asked to provide a phone number at which you can reach them. There should then be a notification on the lock screen of the device, with a green Call button. This also requires that the device be connected to the Internet.
Take a Picture
If none of the above options are viable, one creative solution involves taking a picture. First, hand-write a note that says something to the effect of "I found your device, here's how you can reach me." Then, take a picture of this note using the found device's camera. The camera can be accessed from the lock screen without the need to enter the passcode. See Camera Shortcut on the Lock Screen for more information. If the device is connected to the Internet, and the owner enabled iCloud, the picture should be added to their Photo Stream. If they check their Photo Stream, they should see your note and can contact you.
The Old-Fashioned Way
If the device is not connected to the Internet, the best course of action is to turn it into the authorities. If this is not an option, and you found the device at a business, you might try contacting that business. If you located it on a bus, contact the operator; if you located it on a plane, contact the airport, etc. Apple is not able to help in a situation like this.
If you are the owner and you lost your device, see this article: Apple Product Lost or Stolen.
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