Erase Data from Lost iPhone and What to Do When iPhone Lost

Losing your iPhone can be a terrible experience. There are a few things you can do in case of such an unfortunate incident. You can either track your iPhone, remotely lock it, or if you are sure that it is stolen then you can erase all of its data to protect your privacy. All these things can be done via Find My iPhone feature.

How to Erase Data from Lost iPhone

You can only erase data from lost iPhone if it has Find My iPhone feature enabled. Another thing to note here is that your lost iPhone must have a coverage, otherwise you won't be able to remotely access it. If you are fortunate and both of these factors are in your favor, then you can easily access your iPhone via Find My iPhone. Follow these instructions:

Step 1. Visit iCloud website and sign in using your Apple ID.

Step 2. Click on Find My iPhone and then select All Devices option in the next window. Once you see the list of devices, choose the one that you wish to erase.

Step 3. On the next screen, click on Erase iPhone. You will be asked to provide your Apple ID's password. Type in the password when prompted.

Step 4. Now you will need to enter a phone number as well as a message to show on your lost iPhone's screen after its data is erased.

Step 5. After providing your phone number and writing the message, you will be able to erase your device. The data erasing process will begin instantly if your lost iPhone is online, otherwise it will start once the device becomes online.

Some Other Things You Can Do When iPhone is Lost or Stolen

Turn on Lost Mode

Lost Mode is another feature of Find My iPhone that allows you to lock your stolen/lost iPhone remotely so that no one can access your personal information. If you are hopeful that your lost iPhone will be found and you don't want to erase your valuable data, then locking it is a recommended option. Follow these instructions:

1. Visit iCloud website, sign in, and click on Find My iPhone.
2. Navigate to All Devices and choose the device you wish to remotely lock.
3. Now click on Lost Mode or Lock option provided on the next window.
4. Then follow the instructions. You can also type a message that will be displayed on your lost iPhone once it is locked.

Locate Your iPhone

You can use Find My iPhone to locate your lost/stolen iPhone. It will be tracked if Find My iPhone is set up on your lost iPhone and it is online. Follow these instructions:

1. Sign into iCloud, navigate to Find My iPhone > All Devices and then click on the device you wish to track.
2. Your iPhone's approximate location will be shown on Find My iPhone map if it is online. If it is not, then its last known location will be displayed.
3. Select "Notify me when found" option if it is not located. You will get an email when your lost iPhone comes online.

Bonus Tip: How to Avoid Privacy Leak

Protecting your privacy is very important. If you are concerned about it and don't want to keep any sensitive data on your iPhone, then it is recommended that you use iMyFone Umate Pro to permanently erase it. With Umate Pro, you can rest easy knowing that your private and sensitive information will be completely removed from your device and won't be recovered.

How to Permanently Erase Private Data

Step 1. Slect Erase Private Data tab on iMyFone Umate Pro and when prompted.

Step 2. iMyFone Umate Pro will display a list of your private iPhone data after scanning.

Step 3. You can preview files and select the ones that you wish to erase and then click on Erase Now button.