Did you know that there are over three billion lost or stolen phones worldwide? Most people wouldn’t think twice about returning a phone they found on the street to its rightful owner, but what if you found an expensive phone like an iPhone? What if you found someone’s wallet with all their IDs and credit cards? You would probably want to return that, too! In this article, we will discuss a few ways you can return a phone to its rightful owner. Some of these methods are easier than others, but all of them are worth trying. Let’s get started.
Find Owner Details in the Contacts App
If you find a phone and it’s unlocked, you can check for the owner’s details in the Contacts app. Look for a home screen shortcut to the Contacts app or find it in the app drawer. Once you open the app, scroll through the contacts list to see if you can find the owner’s name, email address, or phone number. If you’re lucky, you might find a photo of the owner.
If the phone is locked, you need to find a way to unlock it. This depends on the type of phone it is. For instance, you need to know how to unlock a lost iPhone without a passcode. While the processes might differ, the goal is still the same: to find a way to contact the owner. You can then call the owner or send them a message to let them know you have their phone.
Call the Carrier
If you can’t find the owner’s contact information in the Contacts app, your next best bet is to call the phone’s carrier. The customer service representative can tell you if the phone is reported lost or stolen. They might also be able to give you some information about the owner, such as their name and address.
What you need to do is to find the IMEI number of the phone. The IMEI number is a unique 15-digit code that identifies a mobile device. Most phones have an IMEI number printed on the back of the device, under the battery. If you can’t find it there, you can also dial *#06# to get the IMEI number.
With the IMEI number, the carrier can track down information about the phone’s owner. They might not give you the owner’s contact information, but they can at least tell you if the phone is reported lost or stolen.
Find Owner’s Details in Medical ID (iPhone Only)
If you’ve found a lost iPhone, then the chances are that their info, along with emergency contacts, may be filled out on their Medical ID. For iPhone users, this is located in the Health app, which you can find on the home screen or in the app drawer. Once you open the Health app, select “Medical ID” from the bottom menu. You can fill out your medical information here along with your emergency contacts. If your phone is lost and found by a stranger, they will be able to see this information and use it to get in touch with you or your emergency contacts.
Check for Owner’s Details on the Lock Screen
If you can’t unlock the phone or access the Contacts app, then your next best bet is to check for the owner’s details on the lock screen. Many people put their name, email address, or phone number on their lock screen in case they lose their phone. So, if you find a lost phone, take a look at the lock screen to see if there are any clues as to who the owner might be. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a way to contact them directly.
Use Find My Device (Android Only)
If you’ve found an Android phone, then you can use the “Find My Device” feature to try and find the owner. This feature is similar to “Find My iPhone” on iOS devices. To use it, you need to have a Google account and be logged into it on the device. Once you’re logged in, go to android.com/find in your browser and enter the phone’s IMEI number. This will bring up a map with the phone’s location, as well as some options to help you find the owner. You can ring the phone, lock it, or erase all data from it. If you choose to lock it, you can put a message on the lock screen with your contact information so that the owner can reach out to you when they find their phone.
Send a Message Through “Lost Mode” (iPhone Only)
If you can’t find the owner’s contact information on the phone, your next best bet is to use “Lost Mode.” This is a feature of “Find My iPhone” that allows you to send a message to the owner’s iPhone. To use it, you need to have a iCloud account and be logged into it on the device. Once you’re logged in, go to icloud.com/find in your browser and enter the phone’s IMEI number. This will bring up a map with the phone’s location, as well as some options to help you find the owner. You can choose to play a sound on the phone, lock it, or erase all data from it. If you choose to lock it, you can put a message on the lock screen with your contact information so that the owner can reach out to you when they find their phone.
Use Android Device Manager (Android Only)
If you can’t find the owner’s contact information on the phone and you’re using an Android device, you can use the “Android Device Manager” to send a message to the owner. To use it, you need to have a Google account and be logged into it on the device. Once you’re logged in, go to google.com/android/devicemanager in your browser and enter the phone’s IMEI number. This will bring up a map with the phone’s location, as well as some options to help you find the owner. You can ring the phone, lock it, or erase all data from it. If you choose to lock it, you can put a message on the lock screen with your contact information so that the owner can reach out to you when they find their phone.
Try Google Assistant or Siri
If you’re trying to return an iPhone, you can also try using Siri or Google Assistant. To do this, hold down the Home button (on iPhones with a Home button) or say “Hey, Siri” (on iPhones without a Home button). Then, say something like, “I found a lost iPhone.” You might get lucky and find an email address or phone number that you can use to contact the owner. Even if you don’t find any useful information, it’s still worth a try.
You can also use Google Assistant by saying “Ok Google” followed by “I found a lost phone.” Again, you might not find anything useful, but it’s worth a try. Another thing is to instruct Google Assistant or Siri to call any of the contact numbers stored on the lost phone. For instance, you can say “Call mom” or “Call dad.”
Drop the Phone Off at a Store
One of the best ways to return a lost phone is to bring it to a store. For instance, if you find an iPhone, you can take it to an Apple Store, and they will help you try to locate the owner. If the phone is locked and you can’t unlock it, the staff might be able to do it for you. Once the phone is unlocked, you can check the Contacts app for the owner’s contact information.
If you’re unsure of what kind of store to take the phone to, you can always try a cell phone store or an electronics store. The staff might be able to help you find the owner or at least give you some advice on what to do next. Ensure you take it to a reputable store, since you will leave the phone with them. You can also leave your contact information so that they can reach you if the owner comes looking for the phone.
Post an Ad
Another way to return a lost phone is to post an ad online. For instance, you can post an ad on Craigslist or any other classified site. Make sure to include a phone photo and a description of where and when you found it. You can also include your contact information so the owner can reach you.
If you’re uncomfortable posting an ad, you can also try social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. There’s a chance that the owner is looking for their lost phone on these sites. By posting an ad, you might be able to help them find their phone. You can make the post go viral by using hashtags or tagging social media influencers who might be able to help you spread the word.
Wait for the Owner to Call
When you lose your phone, you’ll probably try to call it to see if someone picked it up. If you find someone else’s phone, the same thing will happen. Eventually, the owner is going to call their own phone. When this happens, you can answer the phone and tell them you have their phone. You can then arrange a time and place to meet so you can return the phone.
If the owner doesn’t call, you can also try to reach out to them. For instance, you can check the Contacts app for a name or number that you can use to reach the owner. You can also check any social media apps that are installed on the phone. If all else fails, you can always send a text message to the owner’s cell phone number.
Use Emergency Contacts
If you can’t reach the owner, you can try to contact their emergency contacts. To do this, you’ll need to unlock the phone. If you don’t know how to do this, you can always take the phone to a store and ask for help. Once the phone is unlocked, you can access the Contacts app and look for emergency contacts.
If you can’t find any emergency contacts, you can also try to look for a family member or friend. Again, the Contacts app is a good place to start. Once you find a contact, you can try to reach out to them and see if they know the phone’s owner.
Check for Apps
If you’re still having trouble reaching the owner, you can try to use any apps that are installed on the phone if the phone is unlocked. Many people use apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat to stay in touch with their friends and family. For instance, if there’s a social media app like Facebook or Twitter, you can try to log in and see if you can find the owner’s account. You can then send them a message or post on their profile asking them to contact you. Or reach out to one of their friends or family members and see if they can help you get in touch with the owner.
Return It to the Police
If you’re still unable to reach the owner or find any information about them, you can always take the phone to the police. The police will likely try to find the owner and return the phone to them. If they’re unable to find the owner, they might hold onto the phone for a certain period of time in case the owner comes looking for it before disposing of it.
In Conclusion
This is just a general overview of some of the ways you can return a lost phone to its rightful owner. Of course, there are many other methods you can try. The most important thing is that you make an effort to return the phone so that its owner doesn’t have to go without it. Thanks for reading!
