IPhones are expensive gadgets. It can be pretty devastating when you lose one. You'll probably feel bad if your closest friends or family members lost theirs too. Thankfully, you don't just have to offer moral support. You can physically help others find their lost iPhone (News - Alert). On this page, we're going to teach you how to use Find My iPhone for somebody else. 

Find My iPhone is a powerful tool that will allow you to see exactly where an iPhone is located, all thanks to GPS tracking. Generally speaking, it's normally only designed for those who want to find their own iPhone, but there is no reason why you can't use it to find somebody else's, with permission, of course. 

On this page, we're going to walk you through how everything works. We'll also give you another option in case you don't want to use the Find My iPhone feature for somebody else. 

What is Find My iPhone? 

Find My iPhone is an Apple (News - Alert)-developed feature. The primary function is to let people use the feature to track down a missing device. In fact, it'll show you exactly where the phone is located via GPS tracking (or the last known location, if the device has been turned off). 

The feature can also do the following:

• Play a sound to help you locate the device (even if the iPhone is switched to silent). 
• Remotely lock the device so people can't access it. 
• Erase the data remotely. This is helpful if the device can never be recovered. 

It is an essential feature for iPhone users. Using the power of GPS and iCloud technology, you'll know exactly where your iPhone is at all times. Now, let's tell you how it works when it comes to how to use Find My iPhone for someone else. 

Using GeoPhone Tracker to Find Location by Phone (News - Alert) Number 

But wait, what if Find My iPhone doesn't work? This can happen if the device is incompatible, or the Apple ID is unavailable for whatever reason. GeoPhone Tracker works with all devices, and you track using the phone number instead. 

When you use GeoPhone Tracker, you’ll send a tracking request to the device you want to locate. Once the link is opened, you’ll gain full live GPS tracking of the device, allowing you to monitor its real-time location instantly. It’s incredibly simple and hassle-free.

But GeoPhone Tracker offers more than just location tracking. With just a phone number, you can uncover a wealth of information about the individual behind the device. The platform’s advanced database can retrieve essential details such as:

• Full Name: Instantly identify the person associated with the phone number.
• Current and Past Addresses: Know where they are currently located, as well as previous addresses for historical context.
• Other Phone Numbers: Find additional numbers linked to the person.
• Email Addresses: Uncover email addresses associated with the phone number for a more complete contact profile.
• Relatives' Information: GeoPhone Tracker can even show details about family members linked to the target.
• Carrier Information: Get to know the network carrier of the phone number.

Additionally, you can access the exact address of the target on a live map, making it easier to track movements and understand the precise location. Unlike many other services, there’s no need for complex installations or permissions on the target phone, keeping your actions both discreet and effective.

With GeoPhone Tracker, not only do you have the power to track someone’s device in real-time, but you also gain access to comprehensive caller ID information, giving you a complete picture of who’s behind the number.

We recommend this option if Find My iPhone doesn't work for some reason, which is more common than you may think. It does rely on the person who does have the missing iPhone clicking a link to open up the real-time tracking, but you'll be surprised how nice people are. The iPhone would rarely have fallen into the wrong hands. 

Can You Use Find My iPhone for Someone Else? 

You can. However, there are restrictions. The main being that you'll need permission. 

You can't track somebody's iPhone unless they've told you that you can. This is for privacy reasons. After all, do you really want somebody tracking your every movement? 

There are two ways you can get permission. 

The first is to have the other person give you their iCloud username and password. It's a bit risky, but it works. 

Alternatively, if the iCloud account has been set up for Family Sharing with you, then you can track without the username and password. 

Let's talk you through how both these options work. 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Track Someone Else's iPhone 

Let's start by walking you through how you can track somebody else's iPhone using their iCloud login information. It's simple. 

1. You'll need to start by grabbing the Apple ID and password from the person you want to track. Obviously, you'll need permission for this. 
2. If you have an iPhone, open up the Find My iPhone app on it (you can also use an iPad or Mac). If you don't have an iPhone, head to www.icloud (News - Alert).com/find.
3. Login to the account. 
4. You'll then be asked which device you want to track. It should appear on the map at the last recorded position. If the phone still has charge, you might see it move if somebody else has the device). If it has run out of battery, then it will give you the last recorded position. 
5. From the menu that appears, you can play a sound on the device. Alternatively, you can also enable Lost Mode. When Lost Mode is active, it'll lock the device from prying eyes. This is important if the iPhone is at risk of having somebody else grab it. 

In addition to this, you can tap the device name and select 'Erase iPhone. Only do this with permission. It will remove all the data from the device. If the data is not backed up into the iCloud, you'll lose it. 

Using Family Sharing for Easy Tracking 

The second option is to set up Family Sharing. You will not need the login details from the person you're tracking here. However, it does mean you'll share some information via iCloud, so it might not be for everybody. You'll need an iPhone to set up family sharing. 

Here is how it works:

1. Tap Settings on your iPhone. 
2. Select 'Family' 
3. Select 'Set Up Family' 
4. Follow the instructions to set up your family. Make sure you add the person's iPhone you want to track. 
5. That person will receive an email with a notification. One this has been accepted, you can track them using Find My iPhone, as we detailed before. You just don't need to login to their account. 

The main advantage is not needing to share passwords. It's also a good option for tracking devices of younger family members. 

Conclusion 

If you want to use Find My iPhone for someone else, it is easier than you may think they just need to share their iCloud information with you. This can happen after the device has been lost. However, we highly recommend that some safeguards are put in place before a device is lost e.g. Setting up family sharing or using tools such as GeoPhone Tracker so live data about the GPS location is always shared.

Thankfully, finding a lost iPhone is now easier than ever. Just follow what we mentioned on this page, and you should be good to go.