Yes, you can track a dead phone, but only if you enabled the necessary settings before it lost power. For iPhones, the Find My network can show a last known location for up to seven days, and on supported models, it can locate the device for up to 24 hours after it is turned off or up to 5 hours in power reserve mode. For Android, supported devices like the Pixel 8, 9, and 10 series can be located for several hours after the battery dies, provided offline finding was turned on.
Can you track a dead phone?
A dead phone can sometimes still be located if tracking was turned on before it lost power.
How to track a dead iPhone
To track a dead iPhone, you must have enabled the Find My network before the phone was lost. Follow these steps to set it up now and understand what happens after power loss.
- Open Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone.
- Turn on Find My iPhone.
- Turn on Find My network to allow location even when the phone is offline.
- Turn on Send Last Location to automatically send the location when the battery is critically low.
After the iPhone loses power, here are the tracking windows you can expect:
- Up to 24 hours after the iPhone is turned off, if Find My network is enabled.
- Up to 5 hours in power reserve mode, if Find My network is enabled.
- Up to 7 days for the last known location, shown in the Find My app.
To view the location, use the Find My app on another Apple device or go to Find Devices on iCloud.com from any browser. Apple says you can use the Find My app or Find Devices on iCloud.com if you do not have another Apple device available. If the iPhone is offline, you can see its location but cannot play a sound. If more than seven days have passed since the device last sent its location, Find My will show No location found. Apple says a powered-off or dead device can still be located only within the documented time windows above, and after that it may show No location found. If the device is online but cannot send its location, it shows Not sharing location • Online.
How to track a dead Android phone
To track a dead Android phone, you must enable offline finding before the phone is lost. The steps and limits differ by device and setting.
- Open Settings > Google > All services > Find My Device.
- Tap Find your offline devices.
- Choose one of the following options:
- Without network: The device will not participate in the Find My Device network, but encrypted recent locations stored while the phone was online can still be used to locate it.
- Off: Encrypted recent locations will not be stored, and the device will not participate in the network.
- Make sure Bluetooth and Location are turned on when the phone shuts down.
Google lists offline-finding choice: Off and Without network; Google also documents that some devices can use the network to locate the phone after power-off. If offline finding is Off, Google says the device’s encrypted recent locations will not be stored and the Android device will not participate in the network. Google says offline finding depends on whether the device participates in the network and whether encrypted recent locations were stored while it was online. For supported devices like the Pixel 8, 9, and 10 series, the Find My Device network can still locate the phone for several hours after it is turned off or the battery runs out. Google documents that offline-finding behavior can vary by device and setting, and some phones only store encrypted recent locations rather than remaining trackable after shutdown. To check the location, use the Find My Device app or Find Hub on another device.
What to do when tracking fails
If the phone is outside the trackable window, for example, more than seven days have passed for an iPhone, or the Android device is not supported for post-power-off tracking, take these steps.
- Report the IMEI to your carrier: Provide the IMEI number so the carrier can block the device from being used on networks. This can prevent unauthorized use and may help in recovery.
- File a police report for theft: If you suspect the phone was stolen, contact law enforcement with the IMEI number, make, model, and any identifying details. A police report can also be useful for insurance claims.
- Remotely erase the device: If the phone ever comes back online, you can use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) to remotely erase all data, protecting your personal information.
Preventive steps to take right now
To ensure you can track a dead phone in the future, complete this checklist before you lose your device.
- Set up Find My or Find My Device: On iPhone, enable Find My iPhone, Find My network, and Send Last Location. On Android, enable Find My Device and choose the offline finding setting that matches your needs.
- Enable offline finding: For Android, select "Without network" or the setting that allows the device to participate in the network after power-off. For iPhone, ensure Find My network is turned on.
- Record your IMEI number: Dial *#06# to display the IMEI, or find it on the original packaging. Store it in a safe place, such as a password manager or written record, so you can provide it to your carrier or law enforcement if needed.
These steps are essential for tracking a phone location when the battery dies, as they ensure the device can still be found within the limited time windows available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track a dead phone that was never set up for tracking?
No. If you did not enable Find My on an iPhone or Find My Device on an Android before the phone lost power, there is no way to track it after it dies. The phone must have the necessary settings turned on beforehand to store or transmit its location.
Does airplane mode affect tracking a dead phone?
Yes. If the phone was put into airplane mode before it died, it will not connect to cellular or Wi-Fi networks, and it will not participate in the Find My network. The last known location may still be available, but real-time tracking after power-off will not work.
Can I track a dead phone using a third-party app?
Third-party apps cannot track a dead phone unless they use the same underlying network as Apple's Find My or Google's Find My Device.
What should I do if my phone is stolen and I cannot track it?
Immediately report the theft to your carrier to block the IMEI, file a police report with the IMEI number, and change passwords for any accounts linked to the phone. If the device comes back online, you can remotely erase it using Find My or Find My Device.
How long does the last known location stay available?
For iPhone, the last known location is available for up to seven days in the Find My app. For Android, encrypted recent locations are stored while the device is online and remain available until the device is erased or the location data is overwritten.
