How Can I Track a Lost or Stolen Verizon Phone?

In a nutshell: If your phone is lost or stolen, act quickly to protect personal data and prevent unauthorized usage. For Verizon users, enable locator apps like "Find My Device" for Android or "Find My iPhone" for iPhones by adjusting settings and ensuring location services are active

Introduction

If your phone has been lost or stolen then you need to move fast, or you risk more than just the inconvenience of being without a phone. A lot of personal data is probably stored on your phone, and can be used to steal your money or your identity. At the very least, someone could use up your monthly data. Fortunately, if you have a Verizon phone, you have some good options for handling the problem.

What You'll Need

If you want to track a lost or stolen phone, you need to have a locator app turned on for your phone. Get the Find My Device app on Google Play. To activate the "Find My Device" service for Android phones, all you have to do is add your Google account to the device and turn on Location. (On most Android phones, find it under Settings and then tap on Use Location.) To set up the Find My service for iPhones, open Settings, enter your name, tap on "Find My," tap on "Find My iPhone," and then turn on "Find My iPhone."If these locator services have not been turned on, there is unfortunately no way to track your lost or stolen phone.
Please use sense when you find your phone's location. If it is in an unfamiliar or unsafe-seeming location, it may not be a wise idea to go and try to find it. Instead, it may be a better idea to call the police for assistance.You may want to also consider suspending service on your phone to prevent unauthorized data usage and calling.If you notice unauthorized charges on your Verizon bill after your phone has gone missing, report the problem to Verizon. You will not have to pay those charges while the company is investigating.

Sign in to the Google account you have associate with your Android phone.

If you need to find your iPhone, skip to step 5.

Go to the Find Hub page.

Find Hub page

How Can I Track a Lost or Stolen Verizon Phone? (Step 2)

Locate the phone you wish to find in the list of your devices on the left side of the page and click on it.

Alternatively, if you think your phone is just lost somewhere nearby, click the "Play sound" button to have your phone make a sound, which should allow you to find it easily.
You may be required to provide the lock screen PIN for your phone.

Locate your device on the map.

You can choose to get directions to your device's location.
Do not proceed with subsequent steps.

Go to Apple's Find Devices page.

Find Devices page

How Can I Track a Lost or Stolen Verizon Phone? (Step 5)

Sign in to your Apple account.

Select your phone from the list of your devices.

Locate your phone on the map.

Conclusion

If you need help with the Google Find My Device app, contact Google customer service. They do not have a phone-based customer service option, but there are online contact options. If you need help with the Apple Find My app, call Apple customer service. It is available from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm PST 7 days a week. If you need help from Verizon, call Verizon customer service. It is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm EST on weekdays and from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm EST on weekends.

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