Stolen iPhone does not appear in FindMy but still in my Apple Devices

Question

Stolen iPhone does not appear in FindMy but still in my Apple Devices

Context : about 3 days ago my iPhone 15 (not associated with this apple account, since I cant log in without my phone) got stolen, it only had 6% battery so the battery probably ran out very quickly, I'm also on vacation so my phone can't connect to Internet.

As the title says, my phone doesn't appear on https://www.icloud.com/find/, not even as offline. I know that my phone is still linked to my Apple account since in https://account.apple.com/account/manage/section/devices it still appears, unfortunatly since I cant authenticate I cannot see the entire IMEI or serial number. And with the phone not appearing in icloud.com/find, i can't even put it in lost mode or see its latest location.

I do not have any other Apple devices to connect from and I'm not a part of a Family so no one else can see my phone's location, also if this could help at all, it all happened in Morocco and there isnt an official way to contact Apple Support here (I'm from France and bought the phone there so I don't know if I should acctually contact the French Support)

iPhone 15

Posted on Jul 16, 2025 11:25 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 17, 2025 04:06 AM in response to Stolen_Device

First: You do NOT need your 2FA verification code to “Mark as Lost” when using https://icloud.com/find.

(It’s imperative that “/find” is appended to the url.)

Next: As far as gaining access to your larger AppleID w/o another Trusted Device, the “Apple Provided Process” is for you to obtain the code (via voice or SMS) via one of your separate, pre-designated, additional “Trusted Numbers” as described in the following article under, “Get a text or phone call.”

Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support

Finally, see this:

Find your lost iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Although you’re probably going to need to follow these steps:

If your iPhone or iPad was stolen - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Jul 18, 2025 05:39 AM in response to Chattanoogan

I know I dont need 2FA for iCloud find devices, I literally said that the devices doesnt appear on this site meaning i already had acces to it, the issue is just that the phone itself doesnt appear on the site.

For the trusted number thing, I already tried and have to wait for apple to review or whatever.

Finally, both links you provided at the end are useless as since my problem is that my devices doesnt appear in FindMy, not even as offline and I dont have any saves of the phone so I am not erasing it either.

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Answer 3

Jul 18, 2025 05:59 AM in response to Stolen_Device

Unfortunately, stolen phones rarely appear on FindMy. The technical means to defeat tracking are trivial.

FindMy is designed as aid to the owner for when they inadvertently misplace the device.

The “Lost Phone Return” on-screen messaging DOES work IF honest finders are involved — as I personally discovered after leaving my phone in a Las Vegas taxi.

Best of luck going forward. 👋

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Answer 4

Jul 18, 2025 02:03 PM in response to Stolen_Device

Re: “… I dont really understand what you mean by "stolen phones rarely appear on FindMy … “

Because thieves take measures to inhibit FindMy tracking.

FindMy is intended a tool to help mitigate every owner’s occasional absent-mindedness. It’s NOT a criminal investigative tool.

Re: “Blocking”

Your phone’s onboard data is encrypted and locked by it’s passcode. Without the passcode, the data is irretrievable; by even sophisticated thieves.

As long as the device remains on your Apple Account, it is Activation Locked and can never again be used as an “iPhone.” This applies even if the thieves completely reset your phone back to it’s “factory” configuration.

When you report the loss to your carrier (in order to cancel the SIM) request that they blacklist the device itself. (this prevents the device from operating on the network of another blacklist-participating carrier.)

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Answer 5

Jul 19, 2025 03:01 PM in response to Chattanoogan

"FindMy is [...] NOT a criminal investigative tool." Yes I am very much aware of that, I know that if the thief puts airplane mode on or turns the phone off I won't be able to look at its location.

What bugs me is how did they make the phone completly dissapear from the FindMy list, even though I know for a fact that a month ago, when my iPhone 15 was turned off (still in my house, I was just testing), I was able to see its last location on my older iPhone and do actions such as put it in lost mode and other things you could normally do with FindMy.

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Answer 6

Jul 18, 2025 07:01 AM in response to Chattanoogan

If I could only block it it would be so helpful... Usually a device appears in FindMy as online or offline, I dont really understand what you mean by "stolen phones rarely appear on FindMy".

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Answer 7

Jul 19, 2025 03:09 PM in response to Stolen_Device

I’ve been pondering that too … 🤔

Hopefully other explanations of that particular aspect will be forthcoming from others in the community.

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