Turn on Lost Mode for a device in Find My on Mac
If you can’t find your Apple device, you can protect your personal data by marking the device as lost in the Find My app on your Mac. To mark a device as lost, you must add it to Find My before it’s lost.
Tip: You can also mark a device as lost online in Find Devices on iCloud.com.
How does Lost Mode protect a device?
The device is locked with a passcode so no one else can open it.
You can create a message that says it’s lost and how to contact you. The message appears on the screen or when someone tries to connect to your device.
Payment cards and other services are suspended.
Your device doesn’t display alerts or make noise. (It can still receive phone calls and FaceTime calls.)
For additional ways to protect a lost device, see the Apple Support articles Find your lost iPhone or iPad, If your Mac is lost or stolen, and If your Apple Watch is lost or stolen.
Turn on Lost Mode for a device on Mac
You turn on Lost Mode for your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, iPhone Wallet with MagSafe, or supported AirPods that have the Find My network turned on.
Go to the Find My app
on your Mac.Click Devices, select the lost device, then click
on the map.In the Lost [Device] section, click Lost Mode, then follow the onscreen instructions.
Click Activate or Lock (for a Mac).
Important: You can’t unlock a Mac online or on another device. You can only unlock it on the Mac you marked as lost. See Turn off Lost Mode on your Mac.
You can also get notified when the device is located.
Check the status of a lost device
Go to the Find My app
on your Mac.Click Devices, select the device you want to check, then click
on the map.Below Lost Mode, view one of these status notes:
Will be enabled when online: If the device isn’t connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network when you mark it as lost, this message appears until the device goes online again.
Enabled [date]: As soon as the device goes online, Lost Mode is turned on and the date is recorded.
Change the message for the lost device
Go to the Find My app
on your Mac.Click Devices, select the device you marked as lost, then click
on the map.In the Lost [Device] section, click Lost Mode.
Update the message or phone number, then click
.
If you find your lost device, you can turn off Lost Mode.
Note: Location sharing and finding devices aren’t available in all countries or regions.