At one time or another , most of us have go through that moment of panic upon realizing that we do n’t remember where our iPhone or iPad is . Thankfully , included in the dish of tricks for these technological marvel is the ability to order you where they are . All it takes on your part is a little forethought .
By set up the free come up My iPhone ( or iPad , or iPod ghost ) service , owners of iOS devices can not only site their misplaced gadget on a mapping , but also remotely interlock it or pass over all of the onboard data if pauperization be . It ’s one of the iOS ’s most valuable features , but it ’s also one that most people do n’t bed about until it ’s too late .
While this previously required a MobileMe subscription , Apple has lately start the inspection and repair up to owners of the most recent versions of the iPhone and iPod mite . So , if you ’ve latterly bought an iOS machine or given one to a family member , it ’s a just idea to set this feature up .
Verify your device has at least iOS 4.2 in Settings -> General -> About.
Step 1: Check your device(s)
avow your equipment has at least iOS 4.2 in preferences - > General - > About .
you may verify the package version of your iOS gimmick by launching its configurations app and navigate to General - > About and looking for the ingress next to Version . If it does n’t say at least 4.2 , you should upgrade your equipment ’s software package by cop it up to iTunes and dawn the substantiation for Update button .
Step 2: Set up your MobileMe account
Under context - > Mail , Contacts , calendar tap Add Account and then pluck MobileMe .
If you already have a MobileMe account , you do n’t take to care about this dance step ; just jump toStep 3 . As for those of you who play all the criteria from Step 1 but do n’t already have a MobileMe account , fire up options on your iOS machine and navigate to Mail , Contacts , Calendars . Tap the Add Account release and take MobileMe . In the fields provided , enter your Apple ID and password . ( They ’re the same ID and password you utilise to make purchases from the App Store or the iTunes Store . )
If you do n’t have an Apple ID , you may wiretap Create Free Apple ID and follow the instructions there .
Under Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars tap Add Account and then pick MobileMe.
In either of those instance , you may have to verify your young account ; you ’ll be sent an e - mail to the account you used for your Apple ID , ask you to tap a link and confirm that you are indeed the person who controls this vitamin E - mail reference .
Step 3: Enable the Find My iOS device service
Slide the breakthrough My iPhone ( or iPod pinch or iPad ) slider to On to activate the service .
Once your account is typeset up , it ’s time to turn on the Find My iOS equipment service . If you created a Modern Apple ID in Step 2 , then it may instigate you to actuate the service immediately : you could go ahead and do that .
Otherwise , navigate to configurations - > Mail , Contacts , Calendar and tap on your MobileMe invoice . You should be presented with a projection screen similar to the one designate above . mark that if you have a MobileMe account that ’s sync information with your iOS machine , you may have additional On / Off sliders for services like Mail , Contacts , Calendars , and so on .
Slide the Find My iPhone (or iPod touch or iPad) slider to On to enable the service.
The switch we ’re wait for is Find MyDevice . ( The last word will actually be the name of the relevant twist — iPhone , iPod touch , or iPad . ) When you riff the switching on , you ’ll be notified that this feature allows your equipment to be located on a map ; tap Allow , and then rap the Done button in the top right corner ( on the iPad ) or the Mail pointer in the top left ( on the iPhone and iPod touch ) .
Step 4: Test the service on the Web
Now that your gimmick is set up , you could get at it from any iOS gimmick or computer . Let ’s start by try out it via Apple ’s Website . Launch your Web internet browser and visithttps://www.me.com ; you ’ll be prompted for a user name and countersign , which should be the same ones you used in Step 2 .
If you ’re using an existing MobileMe news report , you ’ll need to choose the Find My iOS gimmick service by clicking on the cloud image in the top left corner of the cover and then selecting the icon that look like a radio detection and ranging screen door . If you ’re just using a free Apple ID , you should now see the rule My iOS gadget interface as soon as you sign in .
In either case , you ’ll then be present with a map of the humans , along with a leaning of your machine go down the left hand side of the page . A green dot next to a gimmick means that it has been locate ; a red dot means that it ca n’t be discover ( commonly because the gimmick is power off or in Airplane Mode ) . Clicking any gimmick will show you the machine ’s location on a map .
Once you’ve set up the service, you can locate your device on a map via MobileMe’s Web interface.
Once you ’ve set up the avail , you’re able to site your machine on a map via MobileMe ’s entanglement port .
The precision of the location — represent on the map with a blue Transportation skirt by a shaded circle — depends on what method the gadget employ to report where it is . The GPS chip in iPhones and 3G - enable iPads will provide the most accurate and precise locations . alas , for devices that rely on placement via Wi - Fi position , like an iPod touch or Wi - Fi - only iPad , they ’ll need to in reality be on a Wi - Fi connection to describe where they are .
loom over the machine is a house of cards with the name and an image representing what kind of twist it is . There ’s also a blue arrow : select that will give you a variety of options for remotely moderate your gimmick . Here ’s a rundown of what each of those abilities does :
One option of Find My iPhone lets you remotely display a message on your device, such as contact info or a reward.
One option of Find My iPhone lets you remotely expose a subject matter on your gimmick , such as contact info or a reward .
In each example , you ’ll get an e - mail substance once the call for task has actually been complete . It may take a little while if the gadget is not available via the web , but the requested natural action should be completed once the gimmick gets on-line .
Step 5: Install the Find My iPhone app
you may also get at all of rule My iOS gadget ’s features via the Find My iPhone iOS app .
access this information via information processing system is all well and good , but what if you ’re not near a computer when you discover your iOS gimmick has taken a walkabout ? Well , as long as you ( or a companion ) has another iOS twist , you could install a handy app that will let you locate your errant gimmick right then and there .
Just grab the Find My iPhone app from the App Store . ( Do n’t occupy , iPad and iPod touch owners : despite the name , it work with all iOS devices . ) Once you ’ve done so , you’re able to enroll your Apple ID and password and the app will show you a list of iOS equipment consociate with that account . At that point , you’re able to use the app to do everything that you’re able to do via the Web port , up to and including wiping your twist remotely .
You can also access all of Find My iOS device’s features via the Find My iPhone iOS app.
An ounce of prevention
Of naturally , we fervently hope that you ’ll never have to use this particular feature , but just in case you do run for into the indigence , it ’s secure to know that you have a safety net . Because the only affair worse than that breathless moment of realizing you ’ve misplace your iPhone , iPod touch , or iPad is knowing that with just a little grooming you could have made it easy to address the situation and get your equipment back .
[ Dan Moren is a senior associate editor at Macworld . ]
MobileMe (2010)
8GB iPod touch (fourth generation, late 2010)
iPad 2 family
iPad (1st generation) Family
iPhone 4 16GB Black (CDMA, Verizon)
16GB iPhone 4 (GSM, AT&T)
iPhone 4 32GB Black (CDMA, Verizon)
32GB iPhone 4 (GSM, AT&T)
32GB iPod touch (fourth generation, late 2010)
64GB iPod Touch (fourth generation, late 2010)
