4 ways to protect your phone from loss or theft

No one ever plans to lose their phone, but it happens. In fact, according to 2025 Asurion claims data, more than 13,000 phones are lost or stolen every single day. Luckily, there are four things you can do right now to your iPhone® or Android™ device to increase the odds of you finding it, in case it goes missing.

1. Turn on your device's find my phone features

Preparation is key. The first thing you'll want to do to help find your lost phone is make sure its built-in location features are turned on. On an iPhone®, Find My™ can help you locate your device on a map, mark it as lost, or remotely erase its data if necessary. Android™ phones, including Samsung Galaxy® and Google Pixel™, offer similar features through Google's Find Hub.

Here's how to make sure your phone is ready if it ever goes missing.

To enable Find My on your iPhone

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone.
2. Turn on Find My iPhone.
3. Turn on Find My network to help locate your device even when it's offline.
4. Turn on Send Last Location so your iPhone can share its location when the battery is critically low.

Make sure location services are enabled too. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn the feature on.

To enable Find Hub on your Android phone

Google's Find Hub, formerly Find My Device, works with Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other compatible Android phones. It can help you locate, ring, secure, or erase a missing device.

On Samsung Galaxy:

1. Open Settings > Google.
2. Tap All services > Find Hub.
3. Make sure Allow device to be located is turned on.
4. Tap Find your offline devices to review your offline-finding options.

On Google Pixel:

1. Open Settings > Security > Find Hub.
2. Make sure Allow device to be located is turned on.
3. Tap Find your offline devices to review your offline-finding options.

For either phone, make sure you're signed in to your Google Account and that Settings > Location is turned on.

Samsung Galaxy owners have another option: Samsung Find. To enable it, open Settings > Security and privacy > Lost device protection, then turn on Allow this phone to be found. You can also enable Send last location and Offline finding for additional ways to locate your device.

Once these features are enabled, you can use Apple's Find My, Google's Find Hub, or Samsung Find to look for your phone if it goes missing.

2. Use a strong passcode or password on your phone

When it comes to protecting your phone and personal information, locking the screen is your first line of defense. Here's how to help keep intruders out through the use of a password or passcode.

To set a passcode on your iPhone

1. Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode. If your iPhone has a Home button, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode instead.
2. Tap Turn Passcode On to create a new passcode, or Change Passcode if you already have one.
3. Follow the prompts to enter and confirm your passcode. For added security, tap Passcode Options to choose a longer numeric or alphanumeric code.

To set a screen lock on your Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings > Lock screen and AOD > Screen lock and biometrics.
2. Select PIN, Password, or Pattern.
3. Follow the prompts to create and confirm your screen lock.

To set a screen lock on your Google Pixel

1. Open Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock.
2. Tap Screen lock.
3. Choose PIN, Password, or Pattern, then follow the onscreen instructions.

3 tips for creating a strong phone passcode:

1. Think of numbers as letters to help you create a passcode that is challenging, but something that will be memorable for you. For example, if you're a foodie with a sweet tooth, you might use CAKE (2253) or PIES (7437).
2. Avoid obvious number combinations like 1-2-3-4 or repetitive codes like 1-1-1-1.
3. Don't use numbers that can be easily guessed like your birth date, anniversary, your phone number, etc.

3. Add alternate contact info to your phone's lock screen

If someone finds your lost phone, how are they supposed to return it when they can't unlock it? Asurion recommends adding alternate contact information to your lock screen to give an honest stranger a way to reach you without accessing your personal data.

On iPhone

iPhones don't have a built-in option to add a custom message directly to the lock screen, but you can use Medical ID to share an emergency contact:

• Open the Health app and tap your profile picture.
• Tap Medical ID > Edit.
• Add a trusted person under Emergency Contacts.
• Turn on Show When Locked, then tap Done.

Someone who finds your iPhone can tap Emergency > Medical ID from the passcode screen to view your emergency contact information.

You can also use Lost Mode in Find My to display a custom message and alternate phone number if your iPhone goes missing.

On Samsung Galaxy

Samsung phones let you add contact information directly to the lock screen:

• Open Settings > Lock screen and AOD.
• Select Contact information.
• Enter an alternate phone number or email address, then save your changes.

On Google Pixel

Pixel phones also support a lock screen message:

• Open Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen.
• Tap Add text on lock screen.
• Enter an alternate phone number or email address, then tap Save.

We'd recommend using a trusted person's number or a secondary email address rather than your home address. A simple message like "If found, please contact..." is plenty—no need to share more personal information than necessary.

4. Make sure your phone is protected

A lost phone could ruin your day—but it doesn't have to. With a phone protection plan, like those offered by Asurion, you can have peace of mind knowing that your phone will be protected. No matter what peril it faces, whether it be a thief, a cracked screen, or liquid damage, you can get back up and running quickly, receiving a replacement phone in as little as 24 hours. Learn more about Asurion phone insurance plans today.