The 5 Best Methods to Track a Lost or Stolen iPhone

Summary: Lost your iPhone? Don’t worry, here we tell you how to track lost or stolen iPhone using various techniques. Also, learn how to erase your iPhone data permanently to prevent it from reaching in wrong hands or misuse, using Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

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Q. I cannot live without my iPhone. It was stolen yesterday and can’t recall where I lost it. It has been switched off. Can I track the location of my iPhone? Is there any way to track lost iPhones?

Losing an iPhone (and for that matter any smartphone) is tormenting. Besides the upfront costs, there’s an incredible amount of personal data at stake. Today, smartphones not only store personal photos, videos, and music libraries but might also contain an incredible amount of sensitive information in the form of browsing history, social data, app traces, etc. So the apprehension of exploitation and misuse of the data stored in a stolen or lost iPhone is but real.

So, as soon as you discover that your iPhone has been stolen or lost, first, try to track the location of your missing device and lock it.

How to track a lost or stolen iPhone?

Try out the following methods

1. Use Find My iPhone
2. Track through Apple’s Family Sharing
3. Use Google Timeline
4. Try Google Photos
5. Use location-tracking apps

Method 1: Use Find My iPhone

If Find My iPhone is enabled on your stolen iPhone, you can do the following:

• Locate your mobile phone
• Protect your iPhone data by choosing Lost Mode or erasing the data remotely

How to use Find My iPhone when the phone is missing

• Sign in to icloud.com on your computer.
• Click on the Find My iPhone link at the bottom.
• On the Find My iPhone’s map interface, select your lost iPhone via the All Devices drop-down menu. The app starts tracking your iPhone location on the map.

As you see the location of your device you can choose to do the following

• Play sound (if your iPhone is nearby, you can trace it with sound)
• Activate ‘Lost Mode’ (this locks your device and still tracks it)

What does Lost Mode do to your device?

• Remotely locks your device
• Displays a message with your phone number on the missing iPhone’s Lock Screen
• Keeps track of your device location.
• Erase iPhone remotely (with this action you won’t be able to track your iPhone but data is prevented from slipping into the wrong hands)

How to erase iPhone data remotely?

Choosing to erase the iPhone remotely deletes the complete data from it.

Note: Always remember to copy important photos, videos, music, and other data on iCloud backup before remotely erasing the iPhone.

Use a trusted and safe data recovery solution such as Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone to restore lost files from iCloud. The software allows the recovery of specific data rather than recovering the entire data.

Method 2: Track iPhone through Family Sharing

If you have set up Family Sharing, use it to track your iPhone. Family Sharing helps the members to know each one’s device location. Ask another member in the Family Sharing group to trace your iPhone via the Find My iPhone app. The member can also sign into iCloud.com to locate the missing iPhone.

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Is your missing iPhone switched off or offline?

If the missing iPhone is switched off or showing offline in Family Sharing, you can still activate Lost Mode or remotely erase its data via Find My iPhone.
Note: The iPhone’s last known location remains only for one day. In case your device is offline for over 24 hours, you cannot trace its last location.

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What to do when ‘Find My iPhone’ is NOT enabled or the missing iPhone is offline for more than one day?

• Change your Apple ID passwords to prevent anyone from accessing your data.
• Change your social media and other Internet account passwords like Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Report the device as missing to the authorities.
• Report your network carrier to disable the services like calls, messages, or data use.

Method 3: Use Google Timeline to find lost iPhone

If you have turned on Location Services and Location History on your iPhone, Google’s Timeline will record all the locations of your device.

When an iPhone goes missing, access the location information on a map and find the last location. Remember, Google Timeline records the location only when the iPhone is switched on with an internet connection.

How to see the last location of a lost iPhone in Google Timeline

• Visit <com/maps/timeline> on your computer.
• Sign in to your Google account.
• Click Today or select Date.
• Scroll down to see the last reported location of your iPhone.

Along with the location, note the time when your phone was last connected to Google. Taking clues from the location and time information, you can find your lost iPhone. If needed, take the help of cops.

Method 4: Take location clue from Google Photos

If anyone has captured a photo from your lost iPhone and you have the Google Photos location-sharing option enabled, then luck is on your side.

Visit <photos.google.com/>. Check, if any new photos were uploaded and view their upload location.

Method 5: Location tracking apps

If you have installed any location-tracking app such as GPS Location Tracker, CocoSpy Cell Phone Tracker, or iTrack on your missing device, use it to track the lost or stolen iPhone. These apps share the real-time location of your device on your computer or other connected devices.

Conclusion

Apple’s Find My iPhone feature is the best way to track the location of a stolen or missing device. If Find My iPhone is not enabled you can try Google Timeline or Google Photos. Other than these methods, third-party apps can also help track a lost iPhone, but only if you have installed them before the phone was lost.

Nevertheless, ensure that you copy the iCloud backup of the stolen iPhone before taking any of the above steps.

A smarter way is to filter out the data that you want to keep, with the help of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

Is this post helpful? Share your experience in the comments below, how you managed to track and get back your stolen iPhone.

How to Recover Data from Broken iPhone Screen

Summary: Struggling to recover data after your iPhone’s screen broke? Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone can help restore data efficiently from an iPhone with a broken screen.

Your iPhone is the most cherished personal gadget as it has become more innovative and influential due to its many valuable features. Moreover, information such as notes, contacts, iMessage, calendar entries, text messages, WhatsApp/Kik messages, pictures, and videos are readily available, making it even more lovable. This is why we need to know how to recover data from broken iPhone screens.

These days, though there are plenty of best ways to back up your data, users often overlook the importance of Backup. It happened with _Jacky Jainco; w_hile taking a DSLR-like photo on his iPhone 14 Pro Max, he accidentally dropped his iPhone and, consequently, broke it.

The real problem was not the broken iPhone but to recover data from iPhone as it was not synced with iTunes and iCloud Backup. As a result, he couldn’t access his files, more importantly, his pictures.

You might have dropped your iPhone several times, and luckily, the excellent cover has saved it on all occasions. However, any drop could cause potential damage putting your data at stake; therefore, leverage iTunes or iCloud backup to recover data from the damaged iPhone screen.

Bringing Back Your Data From Backup

You can restore your files from either iTunes or iCloud Backup. In addition, replacement screens are available; you can have an appointment with the genius bar, get your damaged iPhone fixed, and then recover your data. Also, when backup files are inaccessible, turn to an iPhone data recovery software for an easy solution.

Sorting backup files is unmanageable as they tend to be large, running into GBs. Moreover, the process can be tedious, especially when you have to sort all files, even when you need to recover only a specific file. So it is when iPhone Data Recovery Software  by Stellar is fruitful. The software lets you recover deleted files from encrypted iTunes backup files or recover data from an iPhone that would not turn on. Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone supports broken iPhone data recovery from series of iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XR, XS, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6S Plus, 6S, 6 Plus, 6, 5S, 5C, 5, 4S, and 4.

You can recover a specific file without the pain of going through all backup files as the software lists all the files in an organized structure, thus, saving your precious time and effort.  

Watch how to recover photos from a broken iPhone:

Recover your data from iTunes Backup

Here’s how to recover your iTunes backup using Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

1. Select the ‘Recover from iTunes Backup’ option.

2. List of your iTunes backup files appears. Select the relevant iTunes backup

3. In the middle pane, select the files you wish to recover and click the ‘Save’ button.

Click here

Recover your data from iCloud Backup

Another effective way to recover data from broken iPhones is through iCloud Backup. For any reason, let’s suppose you cannot access your iCloud backup files; then, using the ‘Recover from iCloud Backup’ feature, you can restore all your essential files. The simple steps are as follows:

1. Click ‘Recover from iCloud Backup.’
2. Sign in to your iCloud account to view the list of available backup files.
3. In the left pane, click on the supported file list categories to view files under them.
4. Select the files that you wish to restore and click ‘Save.’

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone recovers the deleted photos, contacts, messages, etc., from the backup files and restores them to the device.

That’s Not All

Apart from recovering data from damaged iPhones, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone facilitates the option to import the recovered files to your new or fixed iPhone.

To import your recovered files, follow these steps:

1. First, connect your iPhone to the system, run the software, and click the ‘Import file to iPhone’ option.
2. Click ‘Browse’ and select the files you wish to import to your iPhone.
3. Click ‘OK’ to preview the selected files.
4. Click ‘Transfer to iPhone’ to transfer recovered files to your iPhone.

To Sum Up

When your iPhone is damaged, try the basics, i.e., restart it; if that works, back up as much data as possible. You can also restore your files from iTunes or iCloud Backup if there are any. Else, make an appointment with the genius bar and get your iPhone fixed. They might also help you recover data from the damaged iPhone, which comes with an asterisk. Therefore, turn to Stellar Data Recovery and save time and energy for efficient recovery of your data.

What to do if iPhone is not listed when I run the software?

Your iPhone will only appear in the software if it is visible in iTunes on your computer. If your iOS device is not listed in the software, it means iTunes is not installed on your PC or Mac.

Download the latest version of iTunes and then launch the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone software.

To launch iTunes on your computer:

When iTunes is not installed on your computer, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone  automatically generates the below message. It asks to download and install iTunes. You can click on ‘Click here’ to download iTunes.

If iTunes is already install on your computer and you don’t see your iPhone in the software, update your iTunes to the latest version.

How to Delete All Photos from iPhone Beyond Scope of Recovery?

Summary: Learn how to delete all photos from your iPhone beyond the scope of recovery with this comprehensive guide. We’ve also mentioned an iPhone eraser software that securely erases your photos for good and safeguards your privacy.

Are you planning to sell or discard your iPhone? If yes, it’s important to ensure that your personal data, such as photos and videos, etc. is deleted and cannot be recovered even by a professional data recovery tool. To protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized access to your deleted iPhone photos, make sure your iPhone is wiped clean of all your previous photos before you sell, donate, or discard it.  

In this blog, we will talk about different ways to delete photos from iPhones beyond the scope of recovery.

How to Delete All Photos from iPhone?

Before deleting all photos from the iPhone, it’s important to take a backup of all photos to avoid any accidental data loss situation. There are various ways to back up your iPhone photos:

1. iCloud

Use iCloud to back up all your photos automatically. To sync iCloud with Photos –

• Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos, and turn on iCloud Photos.

Your photos will be backed up to iCloud automatically if your device has enough storage space and is connected to Wi-Fi.

2. iTunes:

You can even use iTunes to back up your iPhone photos. To do this,

• Connect your iPhone to your system.
• Launch iTunes and then select your device.
• Click Summary > “Back Up Now” to create a backup of all your data, including photos.

Once you have backed up all your photos, proceed forward with deleting them from your iPhone.

Method 1: Delete Images From Photos and Recently Deleted Folder

Photos app saves images shot from iPhone as well as those received on chats. You can delete all the photos from your iPhone via the Photos app. Here’s how to do it.

• Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
• Go to the Library tab, tap All Photos, and then tap Select.
• Select one or multiple photos you want to delete.
• Tap on the Trash icon and then confirm to delete the photos.

When you delete a photo from the iPhone, it’s not deleted permanently. Instead, it is moved to the Recently Deleted folder, where the deleted photos stay for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

To permanently delete photos from the Recently Deleted folder, follow these steps:

• Open the Photos app > Albums.
• Scroll down, then tap on Recently Deleted.
• Next, tap Select and choose the photos that you want to delete permanently.
• Tap Delete and then confirm to delete the photos.

Remember, if iCloud sync is enabled, photos deleted from iPhone will be deleted on iCloud. That is why if you want to delete photos from your iPhone but not on iCloud, make sure iCloud sync is disabled for Photos.

Method 2: Factory Reset Your iPhone

Apple’s brilliant feature of the ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ option brings your device to default settings by erasing all your iPhone data, etc.

The factory reset will delete all the settings, photos, audio, videos, messages, notes, call history, search history, app history, passcodes, and any other data on your iPhone.

However, remember erasing your iPhone data with the ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ doesn’t delete your data permanently. It means that all your iPhone data including photos are still recoverable with the help of robust iPhone data recovery software .

Steps to Factory Reset iPhone

• Open Settings on your iPhone.
• Go to General and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Click on the Erase All Content and Settings options.
• Click Continue and enter your iPhone passcode.
• Next, click Erase iPhone. This will fully wipe your device clean.

Note: Don’t forget to back up your iPhone data on iCloud or iTunes before initiating the factory reset. Because this backed-up data can be accessed on your computer or new iPhone.

Stellar Eraser for iPhone is the best way to delete permanently erase all photos as well as other data of the iPhone. The software erases all your photos, contacts, videos, chats, iMessage, browser search history, third-party apps data, and more from your iPhone.

The Stellar iPhone Eraser tool is the best way to clean or delete iPhone data. This tool deletes iPhone data permanently making it impossible to recover it from any software. It is the best data erasure tool for iOS devices before you exchange, sell, recycle, or give them away.

The software works with all iPhones and iPad versions, such as iPhone 14 to lower versions till iPhone 4 and supports iOS versions from iOS 6.0 to iOS 16.

Steps- How to Delete All Photos From iPhone via Stellar Eraser for iPhone

• Download and install Stellar Eraser for iPhone on your Windows and Mac systems.
• Launch the software and click on the Erase Data option.

• In the next Erase iPhone Data screen, click Next.

• Connect your iPhone to the system when prompted and click Erase.

• Click Yes to start the process of erasure.

• Click OK, once all the data is successfully erased.

All the data including photos and videos get permanently erased from iPhone beyond the scope of recovery.

Conclusion

Deleting all photos from your iPhone beyond the scope of recovery is crucial to protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized access to your personal data. By following the methods above, you can ensure that all your photos are deleted permanently from your iPhone. However, the best way to delete all photos from iPhone is by using Stellar Eraser for iPhone. The software will help you erase photos and other data from your iPhone so that it is impossible to recover it using any data recovery software.

FAQ

1. How to Delete Photos from iCloud?

To delete Photos from iCloud, follow these steps:

• Open Settings > tap on your Apple ID > iCloud.
• Then tap Manage Storage and select Photos.
• Next tap Disable and Delete. It will disable your photos from being saved on your iCloud account.

2. How to delete apps on iPhone permanently?

If you want to delete apps on your iPhone for managing the storage space then you directly remove it from Home Screen or delete it from App Library.

3. How to delete documents and data on iPhone?

Documents and Data folder may contain browsing history, cookies, cache, temporary files, database files and other information specific to the app. You can delete them easily by following this detailed guide .