Find My Apple Devices
By Patrick Baker ~
One of the worst feelings in the world is the panic one feels when you can’t find your wallet,
pack, or purse. That same feeling applies when you can’t locate your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.
Fortunately, the Find My app – included with all Apple operating systems – can help you find
your misplaced, lost, or stolen devices. Let’s review the requirements for using this essential
feature.
What You’ll Need
To use the Find My app, you’ll need the following:
1. Update your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.
2. Enable Find My on your device(s).
3. Enable Location Services on your device(s).
4. Enable Family Sharing on your Apple ID.
5. Access to a separate computer or mobile device for using icloud.com/find if you don’t
have access to a device in your Family Sharing circle.
In addition to the Apple devices already mentioned, the Find My app can be used to locate:
● Apple Watch
● iPod Touch
● AirPods
● AirTags
● and certain third-party products
All of the supported devices are associated with your Apple ID or paired with your device. That
includes any family member devices added to Family Sharing.
Enable Find My on iPhone and iPad
1. Open Settings
2. Tap your name and then tap Find My
3. Tap the switch to turn on Share My Location (shares your device location with people in
Family Sharing)
4. Tap Find My [device type]
5. Tap the switch to turn on Find My for your device
6. Tap the switch to turn on Find My network to locate your device if it’s offline
7. Tap the switch to turn on Send Last Location if the battery is critically low
Enable Location Services on iPhone and iPad
1. Open Settings
2. Tap Privacy
3. Tap Location Services
4. Tap the switch to enable Location Services
Enable Find My on MacBook
1. Click the Apple menu and click System Preferences
2. Click Security & Privacy and click the Privacy tab
3. Click Location Services
4. Check the box for Enable Location Services
5. Make sure the box is checked next to Find My in the list of apps
6. Click the dots or use the left arrow to return to the main System Preferences screen
7. Click Apple ID
8. Click iCloud
9. Make sure the box is checked next to the Find My Mac app in the list of apps
10. Click Options and verify that Find My Mac and Find My network are both enabled
Enabling Find My for AirPods, Apple Watch, or Beats Products
Pairing your AirPods, Apple Watch, or supported Beats product with your iPhone will
automatically set up those devices when you enable Find My iPhone.
Locating a Missing Device
To locate a missing Apple device, you can:
1. Use the Find My app on another Apple device (yours or one in your Family Sharing
circle) OR
2. Log in to icloud.com/find
If your device is turned off or unable to connect to a network, Find My will be unable to locate it.
Managing Found Devices
Using the Find My app, you can do the following with your missing device after connecting:
● See its location on a map
● Play a sound on the device (if it can connect to a network)
● Mark it as lost (enable Lost Mode)
● Remote erase your device
For the extended version of this article, please visit primeoflifetech.com. Next month we’ll
discuss how to Find My Android Devices.
Patrick Baker is an IT consultant and the founder of Prime of Life Tech. To learn more about his
services, visit primeoflifetech.com, email info@primeoflifetech.com, or call (720) 319-7145.
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Do you have technology questions? Send an email to questions@primeoflifetech.com. Patrick
will follow up with you and may use your question in a future edition of this column.
