Feb 8, 2023

Lost Your Cellphone? Here’s 4 Ways to Find It

Lost Your Cellphone? Here’s 4 Ways to Find It

At this point, there are about 3.2 billion Android devices and iPhones across the globe, which means that a lot of people may face the fear of a lost mobile device. Although it’s seriously anxiety provoking, the good news is that it is much easier to locate a lost device now than ever before. We’ve put together some tips that can help you find a lost Android phone or lost iPhone and, while they’re effective, we hope you never have to use them!

Dad and daughter in orange tee shirts.

1.

Travel “wallpaper”

Going on vacation or traveling for work? Set this special “wallpaper” up ahead of time and make it easy for whoever finds your lost Android phone or lost iPhone it to get in touch with you.

Go into Notes and type in the dates you’re traveling. For example, March 12-17, 2023. Then write: If this phone is found, please return to the front desk at the Hotel Name, Address, State, Zip. Thank you!

Next, center the text in the middle of the page and take a screenshot of it. Edit it to crop out anything extraneous and save it to your photos.

Then, go to Settings, then Wallpaper, then Choose a New Wallpaper. Then go to your photos. It will be the last one you took. Save it as your wallpaper. Once you get home, you can replace your travel “wallpaper” with whatever you prefer.

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2.

Typed or handwritten note

If the travel wallpaper seems a bit much, here’s an easy alternative that you can do and leave on your android phone or iPhone all the time – whether you’re traveling or not.

Type up your email address and/or work phone number in a small font and print it out. Then tape it to the back of your phone or your phone case using clear shipping tape. Be sure to position it in a place where you won’t touch it too frequently with your palm or your fingers. If your phone case has a rough or rubbery surface, you can also write that information using a fine point, permanent marker. Again, make sure you do so someplace you won’t constantly be touching.

Let’s say though, that you’ve lost your Android phone or iPhone and there’s no note in it or on it. What to do then?

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3.

a. Borrow a phone and call your number

Listen for the phone ring or vibration. If your lost Android phone or lost iPhone is actually in someone’s hands, and they’re an honest person who’d like to return it to you, they’ll answer when they hear the phone ring.

b. Search your current location

Do a full-on visual search for your missing phone. Retrace your steps. Look around the area where you last had the cell phone. Don’t forget to check any nearby tables, chairs, or other furniture that could have easily hidden your phone. Try not to panic if you don’t hear a ring or vibration. Remember that your cell phone battery could be dead.

c. Borrow a phone and send a text

If you think you're dealing with a stolen phone, send a text with your contact information. Don’t share anything personal, just a phone number or email address.

4.

Contact your service provider

If you’re certain that you're dealing with a lost or stolen phone, get in touch with your phone company. Tell them you've got a lost device and ask if they offer a GPS locating service. If they do, there’s a chance you will recover your lost phone. If they don’t, ask them to deactivate the SIM card registered to your phone. This provides an extra level of security so if whoever has your missing Android device or iPhone attempts to hack into it, they’ll be unable to access your data. They also won’t be able to use your Android device or iPhone to make calls or send text messages.

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What should you do if you get your phone back?

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Fantastic. Your beloved cell phone is back in your hands where it belongs and you’re relieved beyond belief. Now, what steps should you take?

Wipe it

Seriously. You have no idea if someone installed spyware or a malicious app while it was missing. Of course before you wipe it, be sure you have copies of all the photos and videos on it. After you’ve done that, reset your device to its factory settings and, if you are given the option to reset everything, take it.

On Android: Go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset

On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Reset. At this point you’ll be told that you’re about to erase all your data, etc. Then you will see an Erase button. Tap it, and in a few moments your phone will reset.

Cheerful young mom and daughter sitting on the sofa and Facetiming family.

# # #

Things to do BEFORE you lose your phone

Sadly, most of us don’t take the time to prepare for the horrifying moment when we realize our phone is not in our pocket or bag. In an effort to help you avoid this situation, following are steps you can take now to protect your phone later.

Get familiar with your phone's "phone retrieval" technology

If you happen to lose track of your iOS or Android smartphone, both Apple and Google feature built-in phone retrieval technology as part of the native software package that works via your device account — Google for your Android account and iCloud for your iPhone. Both allow you to remotely lock and wipe your phone, make it ring, and set up special messages to alert whoever finds it. These features work great as long your phone's battery holds up.

Set a message on the lock screen

Set a message to appear on the lock screen if you think someone might pick up the phone and return it to you. As long as it's locked, no one can access your data.

Set up a really strong password

Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters and create a password that’s at least eight characters long. You want to make it as difficult as possible for someone to figure out. Suzy1972 is not going to cut it. But $uz@1$#? could do the trick.

Set up “Find My Phone”

In the event you need to find your phone, enable this setting.

On, Android device: Open Settings, then Security, then Find My Device, and turn it on. If you can’t find Find My Device, it’s possible that it’s called Find My Mobile. To best track a lost or stolen Android phone, use Google's Find My Device. On newer devices, the Android Device Manager lets you locate a stolen Android device

On iPhone: Go into Settings, then tap your name at the top of the screen. Scroll down to Find My and tap on it. This will take you to Find My iPhone. Toggle it on.

FamiSafe - Lost Phone Tracker With a high-sensitive, real-time live location function, FamiSafe is undoubtedly the best way to find a lost Android phone or iPhone remotely, on the condition that you've installed it on the lost cell phone. It's especially useful when kids lose their phones.

# # #

Happy little boy looking at his dad's cell phone while they're sitting on the sofa.

What should you do if you don’t get your Android phone or lost iPhone back?

Go immediately to your computer and log into every account you had on your phone – your bank, google account, shopping, email – and change your passwords. Do your email account first, then move on to financial and shopping accounts that have your credit card information on file. Amazon, Uber, etc. Once you’ve changed those passwords, move onto your social accounts and change those passwords as well.

# # #

And finally... What should you do if you find a lost phone?

If you find a lost phone, returning it is easy. If you have the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number or ESN number, simply contact your cellular service provider and leave your contact info with them.

AT&T accepts lost phones at its AT&T corporate retail stores, so if it's an AT&T phone you can drop it off.

There’s nothing more frustrating than losing your cellphone. But it happens. And if it does, why not look at it as the opportunity to get free wireless service and a free cellphone with Life Wireless?

What our customers are saying:  

Happy woman relaxing in a porch swing and checking her email.

"Life Wireless has been great. I have used it so many times for appointments and finding the proper care providers for my needs as well as for my family's needs. Thank you so much Life Wireless!"  Rebecca L., KY

Life Wireless offers government subsidized free cellular service through the Affordable Connectivity Program to qualifying individuals and families. And, if you’re unemployed or participate in a government benefit program such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, or WIC, you already qualify for this federally funded free cellular service. It’s not difficult to qualify for free cellular service from Life Wireless, if you meet certain requirements, and it takes just a few minutes to complete the application.

About the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

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As we mentioned above, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a government benefit program operated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that provides discounts on monthly broadband Internet access service. ACP benefits may be obtained from any participating provider of your choice including Life Wireless. Only one member of a household can participate in the program and the service cannot be transferred to another family member or individual.

Because many families struggle to afford cell phones and Internet access, both of which are vital to daily life, the Federal Government offers ACP and another program called Lifeline. Using both doubles your connectivity and enables you as a parent or guardian to stay connected to doctors, employers, family and friends, and your student’s school.

About Lifeline

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Lifeline is a federal program created to help qualified households pay for connectivity services such as wireless and internet plans. As with the Affordable Connectivity Program, only one member of a household can participate in the program and the service cannot be transferred to another family member or individual.

Examples of one household:

  • A married couple that lives together

  • A parent/guardian and child who live together

  • An adult who lives with friends or family who financially support him/her

Each of these are one household and must share one benefit.

Examples of more than one household:

  • Four roommates who live together but do not share money are four households. They can have one benefit each, for a total of four benefits.

  • 30 seniors who live in an assisted-living home are 30 households. They can have one benefit each, for a total of 30 total benefits.

Each state has different eligibility requirements such as receiving government assistance or having a household income that is at or below the federal poverty level for the state in which you reside.

In general though, you are qualified to receive Lifeline if you participate in any of the programs listed here:

  • Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • Medicaid (not Medicare)

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

  • Section 8 Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

  • Veteran's Pension or Survivor's Pension Benefit

Additionally, if you are a resident of a Federally-recognized Tribal land, you may qualify under the following programs:

  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance

  • Tribally Administered TANF

  • Head Start (if you meet the income-qualifying standards)

Even if you’re paying just $20 a month for cell service, wouldn’t it be great to have that $240 to spend on groceries? If you apply for Lifeline and are approved, you’ll receive:

  • FREE Unlimited Talk & Text

  • FREE 15GB Data (+ more data for California residents)

  • FREE Smartphone (or bring your own)

Pair Lifeline with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and DOUBLE your connectivity

Young man in a baseball cap and plaid shirt standing in a corn field sending a text.

If you’re approved for Lifeline and you sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you get two sources of free talk, text, and unlimited data that you can split between two phones. That means free cell service for you and free cell service for someone you love. Like your student. This is a terrific opportunity to provide him or her with talk, text, unlimited data, the ability to stay in touch with you, and access to the biggest library in the world: the internet.

Of course you don’t have to split the service between two phones, you can keep it all on one. But it’s a wonderful option if your spouse, student or relative needs a phone but has been unable to get one due to the expense.
Whichever option you choose – to keep the data on one phone or split it between two – Life Wireless will make sure you receive the free talk, text, and unlimited data to help you stay connected.

Option 1: Combine Your Data

Activate Lifeline and ACP on the same device and receive unlimited talk, text, and data, plus 5GB of mobile hotspot.

Option 2: Split Your Data
Split your data between two phones or supported devices and you’ll have one device with ACP’s free talk, text, and 6GB of data and a second device with Lifeline’s talk, text, and 4.5GB of data (6GB of data in California).

What our customers are saying:

Young woman in a red plaid shirt and cap checking her table in the middle of a field.

“Without this phone I would be lost. It has helped me stay in contact with my daughter’s specialist. I schedule her appointments and they can call back if there are any complications with her results. Thank you, Life Wireless.” Amanda Z., PA
 

Additional, important, details

Young mom in a yellow dress holding her baby while cooking and talk on her cell.

Life Wireless service is a prepaid service offered to those eligible for ACP discount benefits and those eligible for Lifeline benefits.  To maintain your service and benefits, you need to:

  • activate your service by calling someone,

  • initiating data usage (by going on Facebook, for example), or

  • by responding to instructions from Life Wireless to activate the service.

Male hiker in an orange jacket sitting on a rock and checking his email.

To keep your account active, you need to use the service at least once during any 30-day period by:

  • calling someone,

  • answering a call from someone other than Life Wireless,

  • sending a text message,

  • using cellular data (again, by going on Facebook or Amazon, for example),

  • purchasing additional service from Life Wireless,

  • or by responding to a direct contact from Life Wireless confirming that you want to continue receiving service from Life Wireless.

Should your service goes unused for 30 days, you will no longer be eligible for Lifeline benefits and your service may be suspended (allowing only 911 calls and calls to the Life Wireless's customer care center), and subject to a 15-day cure period during which you must use the service (as described above) in order to fully re-activate your service, keep your telephone number and remain enrolled in the ACP.

For questions about Life Wireless, visit our Contact Us page here. To enroll now, use the Life Wireless Online Enrollment form.

Quick facts about Life Wireless

Dark haired man in a denim shirt smiling as he checks his cell phone.

You can add more minutes and data

You can purchase additional minutes or data one of the following ways:

  • Go to www.LifeWireless.com and click "Add Minutes/Data"

  • If you have a smart phone, go to your MyLifeWireless app and click "Add Minutes".

  • Call Customer Service at 1-888-543-3620, or by dialing 611 on your Life Wireless phone.

  • You can also go to any Moneygram location and use Receive Code: 7924

You can track your minutes

Your minutes replenish each month on your anniversary date before end of the day. For example if you signed up and received your minutes on the 12th of the month, your minutes will replenish every month on the 12th of the month.

You can check your account balance the following ways:

  • Go to www.LifeWireless.com and click "My Account"

  • Go to your MyLifeWireless app on your phone, and click "Check Balance"

  • Call Customer Service at 1-888-543-3620, or by dialing 611 on your Life Wireless phone.

You can keep your current phone number!

If your application is approved, you have the option to keep your current phone number.

Once you receive your Life Wireless phone in the mail, call Life Wireless Customer Service at 1-888-543-3620 and a representative will assist you in keeping your current number. Make sure that you don't call from your Lifeline phone and have your account number and password from your previous carrier handy.

What our customers are saying:  

Happy young couple both with backpacks checking directions on a cell phone.

"Life Wireless has been great. I have used it so many times for appointments and finding the proper care providers for my needs as well as for my family's needs. Thank you so much Life Wireless!"  Rebecca L., KY

“Without this phone I would be lost. It has helped me stay in contact with my daughter’s specialist. I schedule her appointments and they can call back if there are any complications with her results. Thank you, Life Wireless.” Amanda Z., PA
 
“I've been looking for apartments, doctor’s offices, and school phone numbers, and my data provided has been a tremendous help in gaining access to this information. I'm very grateful for this service.” Maria R. AZ

Sweet young couple both in blue jeans laughing on the sofa.

If you should lose your phone and need to replace it, that’s stressful enough. You don’t need to add to it with additional expenses. Let Life Wireless help you. Apply for free cellular service with Life Wireless now. You’ll be glad you did.

 

 

Posted 1 year ago