iPhone in lost mode - just seen notification

Hello everyone. I’m looking for a technical answer. What does “iPhone was just seen” really mean? Does it mean that someone with an iPhone passed by it and it sent a signal or does it mean that it’s somewhere close to me? Whenever I turn on “Notify when found” on FIND MY, I almost immediately get a notification on my Watch and iPad that the iPhone was just seen.

A bit of a backstory: I lost my phone on Thursday evening and before it switched off, the last location as of 00:30 was my house. After it switched off (probably low battery), it shows last address 7km from my house. I don’t suspect theft. I think I dropped it on my way or while entering my house. I’m completely baffled. I can’t locate it. And now it’s been more than 24hours off which means it will stop updating location, but I still get the “just seen” notifications.


PS: Of course I locked it and put my number to call in case someone finds it but it’s still pending since it’s off.

iPhone 11, iOS 16

Posted on Nov 19, 2023 07:55 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 23, 2024 04:32 PM

I found my i phone

Similar questions

5 replies

Nov 19, 2023 08:06 AM in response to Panayiotis Angonas

To improve understanding of the phenomenon, it would be highly beneficial if you could share a screenshot. Visual representations carry greater impact than written descriptions.


Please remember that this is a public forum, so when attaching a screenshot, please avoid including any personal credentials such as IP addresses, card details, email IDs, Apple IDs, IMEI numbers, serial numbers, phone numbers, order IDs, or any identifiable location information if you are sharing a map.



With the limited information that you have provided, It is hard to even guess the problems faced by you. 


You may get faster and better responses to your query by --> Writing an effective Apple Support Commun… - Apple ...



Please re-post with detail so that someone else can help.



Nov 19, 2023 08:07 AM in response to Panayiotis Angonas

When you receive a notification saying your iPhone was just seen on Find My, it typically means that another Apple device, such as someone else's iPhone, iPad, or Mac, has detected and relayed the location of your lost iPhone. This detection can happen when any iOS or macOS device with Find My enabled comes into the vicinity of your lost iPhone.


In your situation, if your iPhone was last seen 7km away from your house after it turned off due to low battery, it's possible that someone else's Apple device picked up its location while passing by. This doesn't necessarily mean your iPhone is exactly where it was detected; it's an approximation based on the location data relayed by other Apple devices.


Since your iPhone has been off for more than 24 hours and has stopped updating its location, you might still receive "just seen" notifications based on the last known location until the iPhone is powered on and connects to the internet again. Keep in mind that these notifications provide an approximate location and may not directly lead you to your device.


It's a good step to have locked your iPhone and added your contact information for anyone who might find it. If your iPhone is turned on again and connects to the internet, the lock screen message with your contact information will be displayed.


Continuing to check Find My periodically or relying on these notifications might eventually lead to the device being found if it's powered on again and detected by another Apple device in the vicinity.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhone in lost mode - just seen notification

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.