How do I track a stolen iPhone without Apple Care and Find My iPhone?

destainy160 wrote:

my iPhone was stolen

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: What to do if iPhone was stolen and Apple care warranty was turned off due to find my iPhone being turned off

‘Apple doesn’t track devices. They provide a means to track devices, FindMy. A condition of Apple Care+ Theft & Loss is FindMy must be turned on. By turning FindMy off the theft & loss part is no longer in effect. Apple doesn’t track not have alternative means of tracking your iPhone. Cellular service providers can triangulate locations of devices but in most countries or regions it will require a court order to implement tracking and triangulation. Contact your local law enforcement and discuss your situation and listen to their recommendations. Good luck.

Find My is an application to help you track your iPhone if it is lost or stolen. Since you did not choose to enable Find My, you cannot track your iPhone.

If you are saying that you passed on the option to have AppleCare Theft and Loss coverage on your iPhone, then your option will be to buy a new phone.

Hopefully, you will enable Find My and purchase AppleCare Theft and Loss coverage on your new iPhone.

madsorark89 wrote:

A phone is not a cheap investment to casually "just buy a new one"

Well then here’s the bottom line. In their original post the user states they do not have AppleCare nor did they set up Find My. That means their stolen phone cannot be traced or found at all by anyone and will not be replaced by Apple.

So their only option is to buy a new phone if they want to make and receive phone calls, send texts, take pictures.

If Find My is turned off on your iPhone, the device cannot be tracked. However, you can still take steps to protect your personal data.

This may help you --> Do's and Don'ts for lost iPhones - Switch… - Apple Community

If you have an AppleCare+ plan with Theft and Loss coverage, make sure that Find My iPhone remains enabled at all times.

Having AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage does not automatically guarantee that your claim will be approved. Apple requires Find My to be enabled on the device at the time it is lost or stolen and throughout the claims process.

If Find My was turned off before the device was lost or stolen, your claim may be denied, even if you have an active AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plan.

This is an explicit eligibility requirement, not merely a recommendation. Find My must also remain enabled, and the iPhone must stay associated with your Apple Account until the claim is fully processed and approved.

Important: Simply sharing your location does not satisfy this requirement.

You can refer to Apple's official documentation here: iPhone Theft and Loss Claims – Official Apple Support

If you have an AppleCare+ plan with Theft and Loss coverage, make sure that Find My iPhone remains enabled at all times.

Having AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage does not automatically guarantee that your claim will be approved. Apple requires Find My to be enabled on the device at the time it is lost or stolen and throughout the claims process.

If Find My was turned off before the device was lost or stolen, your claim may be denied, even if you have an active AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plan.

This is an explicit eligibility requirement, not merely a recommendation. Find My must also remain enabled, and the iPhone must stay associated with your Apple Account until the claim is fully processed and approved.

Important: Simply sharing your location does not satisfy this requirement.

You can refer to Apple's official documentation here: iPhone Theft and Loss Claims – Official Apple Support

LD150 wrote:

fartss wrote:

A phone is not a cheap investment to casually "just buy a new one"

It's the only option other than have no phone. What would you do? Call on Magnum P.I.?

Who would likely charge more than the value of the phone for their professional services, whether they were able to recover the phone from the criminals, or not.

Servant of Cats wrote:

LD150 wrote:

fartss wrote:

A phone is not a cheap investment to casually "just buy a new one"

It's the only option other than have no phone. What would you do? Call on Magnum P.I.?

Who would likely charge more than the value of the phone for their professional services, whether they were able to recover the phone from the criminals, or not.

I agree. And who turns off Find My on a thousand quid phone??

I now try to keep up the tradition of our old friend QuickTimeKirk and post responses of less than 5 lines. "Buy a new one" was all that was needed to be said and easier to read 😊

A phone is not a cheap investment to casually "just buy a new one"

The iPhone was not an investment at all if it was not important enough to protect it in the event of theft or loss.

Do you have a better answer for the OP?

Who has confirmed that your AppleCare+ theft & Loss cover is void?

If it was the cover provider then you just buy a new one.

A phone is not a cheap investment to casually "just buy a new one"

fartss wrote:

A phone is not a cheap investment to casually "just buy a new one"

It's the only option other than have no phone. What would you do? Call on Magnum P.I.?