What to Do Immediately After Losing Your Phone — Step by Step

The first 30 minutes after losing your phone matter most. Here is the order: 1) Use Find My iPhone or Google Find My Device from another device to locate, lock, or erase your phone remotely. 2) Call your carrier to suspend your SIM card so nobody can use your number for calls, texts, or two-factor codes. 3) Change passwords for your email, bank, and any accounts that use SMS-based two-factor authentication. 4) Notify your bank to watch for suspicious activity.

If you think it was stolen, file a police report — you will need it for insurance claims and it helps if your phone is tracked to a location. Having your IMEI or serial number ready makes this process much faster. The calmer and faster you act, the less damage a lost phone can do.