How to find a cell?

[andreweliu777]

i introduced my friend use public mobile, however, he lost his phone, just wondering is that possible public mobile can help to find his phone?

[HALIMACS]

@andreweliu777 

The only way authorities or a wireless service provider will attempt to find a phone (without a court order) is if the device is with a person that they are also trying to find for various reasons.

[esjliv]

@andreweliu777  - do you know if there is some kind of screen lock on it showing a message 'if found call/email..' something like that?

If this was just recently lost, have you or your friend tried calling it, in hopes a good Samaritan finds it and returns it.

Like others are saying your friend can list their phone lost/stolen in their self serve account, but once you do that you can no longer try to call it as it will no have services any longer. But, I suppose you could always go back into the lost/stolen section and resume service again..if you wanted to try calling it at different times?

[BKNS27]

@andreweliu777 

As long as the phone battery isn’t dead. Depending on the make of the phone, your friend can click the iPhone, Samsung or Google phone link as noted by @softech .

[softech]

@andreweliu777   

Do not delay, ask your friend to try the FindMyPhone services depends on the type of the phone:

Apple: https://www.apple.com/ca/icloud/find-my/

Google: https://myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone

Samsung: https://findmymobile.samsung.com/

And No, provider would not help you to locate the phone unless you have a court order

[JL9]

Unfortunately not, a provider can't do that. Best bet would be to use the proprietary find your phone apps depending on if it's iPhone or Android, you can use google as well.

If it wasn't set up or the phone has been shut down, it will be an uphill battle though and most likely gone. 

[dabr · Accepted solution]

@andreweliu777   PM won't be able to help with finding his phone, but he should definitely log into his self serve account immediately and put his phone into Lost/Stolen mode by clicking the Plans/Add-ons tab, then Lost/Stolen and Suspend Service.  Once he has found his phone or decided to replace the SIM to use on another phone, then he will need to remove the suspension and Resume service.

He may be able to find online help for locating his lost phone though.