Find My and Activation Lock on iPhone Duo

iPhoneUpdated

Turn on Find My on iPhone Duo in Settings > [your name] > Find My, and Activation Lock switches on with it. Apple says Activation Lock then needs your Apple Account password before anyone can turn off Find My, erase the phone or reactivate it. Apple's iPhone Duo spec pages also list Find My via satellite.

Quick answer

Go to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and turn it on, then turn on Find My network and Send Last Location. Activation Lock comes on automatically. If the phone goes missing, mark it as lost in the Find My app or at icloud.com/find, which locks it and stops Touch ID unlocking it.

How do you turn on Find My on iPhone Duo?

Apple's steps are the same on every iPhone:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap your name, then tap Find My.
  3. Tap Find My iPhone, then turn on Find My iPhone.
  4. Turn on Find My network, so you can see the phone even when it's offline.
  5. Turn on Send Last Location, so its location is sent to Apple when the battery is low.

Apple describes the Find My network as a crowdsourced network of over a billion Apple devices that use Bluetooth to report an approximate location, anonymously and encrypted. Availability can vary by country or region.

Apple also says that if Find My wasn't on before the phone was lost, it won't appear in Find My and you can't mark it as lost or erase it remotely. So do this today.

What is Find My via satellite on iPhone Duo?

Apple's iPhone Duo spec pages, in the UK and the US, list Find My via satellite among the phone's safety features, alongside Emergency SOS via satellite, Roadside Assistance via satellite and Crash Detection. Apple's US spec page says satellite features are included free for two years with the activation of any iPhone 14 or later, and that connection and response times vary by location and conditions.

Apple doesn't describe on those pages how Find My via satellite works on iPhone Duo, so we won't guess.

What does Activation Lock do?

Apple says Activation Lock is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone if it's lost or stolen. It turns on automatically when you set up Find My. Apple then stores your Apple Account on its activation servers, linked to the phone.

From then on, Apple says your Apple Account password is needed before anyone can:

  1. Turn off Find My.
  2. Erase the phone.
  3. Reactivate and use it.

Every time an iPhone is activated or recovered, it contacts Apple to check for Activation Lock. Apple says that even if you erase the phone remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone else from reactivating it, as long as you keep Find My turned on. Apple adds that it can also protect individual parts: a part taken from a locked device isn't eligible for service under the Apple Limited Warranty or an AppleCare plan.

Apple's own advice is short: keep Find My turned on.

How does Lost Mode protect iPhone Duo?

Marking the phone as lost puts it in Lost Mode. Apple says it's locked with your passcode, Apple Pay cards and passes are suspended, and you can show a phone number and message on the screen. That message stays even after the phone is erased.

For a Touch ID phone like iPhone Duo, one more line from Apple matters: Lost Mode stops Touch ID being used to unlock the device. And with Stolen Device Protection on, Apple says turning off Lost Mode needs Touch ID, so someone who knows your passcode is still locked out.

The steps to turn on Lost Mode are in iPhone Duo stolen: what to do.

No other Apple device? Sign in at icloud.com/find. Apple says you don't need a verification code there, so it works even if the lost phone is your trusted device. If you're asked for one, choose Find Devices instead.

What if Find My shows no location?

Apple explains the messages:

  • If the battery has run out, you can see its last known location for up to seven days in the Find My app.
  • After more than seven days with no location sent through the Find My network, it shows "No location found".
  • If it's online but can't send its location, for example because of a Location Services issue, it shows "Not sharing location • Online".

Apple adds that if you change your Apple Account password with Stolen Device Protection on, in an unfamiliar location, your devices' locations may not show at icloud.com/find for a while.

Should you erase a lost iPhone Duo?

Only once you've tried everything else, and never remove it from Find My afterwards: Apple says that removes Activation Lock. Apple says you need two-factor authentication to erase from the Find My app; without it, use iCloud.com.

For the full theft checklist, read iPhone Duo stolen: what to do, phone stolen with the passcode and phone snatched.

How do you check Activation Lock on a used iPhone Duo?

Apple says that on iOS 15 or later, an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen means the phone is protected by Activation Lock, and not to take ownership of it. Apple's full checks, step by step, are in buying a used iPhone Duo.

Where Failshot fits

Find My helps you get the phone back and keeps it locked to you. Your passcode is the first layer. Failshot is the second.

Failshot for iPhone is coming soon. When it's out, you'll turn it on, leave Failshot open on its own screen and lock your iPhone, and whoever unlocks it into Failshot will be photographed. Get early access and we'll email you when Failshot for iPhone is ready.

Failshot for Mac is out now, for macOS 14 or later.

More questions

Is Activation Lock on by default on iPhone Duo?

It comes on automatically when you set up Find My, according to Apple. If Find My iPhone is on in Settings > [your name] > Find My, Activation Lock is on too.

Can Apple remove Activation Lock if I forget my password?

Apple says that if you can't find your Apple Account or reset your password, you'll lose access to your account and may be unable to use or reactivate your device. Reset your password through Apple, and review your account details now and then.

Will Apple contact me if my iPhone Duo is found?

No. Apple says it will never contact you to say your iPhone has been found, and that you should never share your passcode, passwords or verification codes with anyone who asks. Apple warns about phishing messages, fake support calls and other scams.

Can I find my iPhone Duo if it's switched off?

Possibly. Apple says Find My shows the last known location for up to seven days if the battery has run out, and that Send Last Location tries to upload the location just before it needs charging. Turn both Find My network and Send Last Location on.

Should I report a stolen iPhone Duo to the police?

Yes. Apple says to report it to your local police, who may ask for the serial number, and to contact your network provider to report it and disable your account.

Sources