iPhone: Did you know that you can deactivate locating when you turn off your smartphone?

Most iPhone users may be familiar with the Apple device monitoring system called Find (Find My). This system is used to locate iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, Macs, AirPods and AirTags when they are lost or stolen. It is without a doubt the best network today and has been the salvation of many people who end up recovering the “missing” device.

On newer iPhones, even when the device is turned off, the system gets the location. However, it may be necessary for the user to "hide" from the network. And iOS 15 brings an option that we are going to present to you.

Find: You can temporarily disable location

The Find Network started just like Find my iPhone in June 2010 for users of a service called MobileMe. Later in November 2010, Apple decided to make the system available in iOS 4.2 for all users.

Therefore, since then, iPhone and iPad are detected and send the last location, after the battery is drained. However, Apple has upgraded the system and since iOS 15 it is even possible to locate the turned off iPhone via the Find Network. This feature is enabled by default on devices.

Most iPhone users (and other Apple devices) are probably already familiar with this system. What you might not know is that one of the latest iOS updates lets you "temporarily disable" the feature. In other words, if for various reasons you want to make your iPhone “not found”, just enable this option.

But what is this option for?

Well, your location is visible in Find My on other devices and to members of the Family Sharing group you share your location with. Then the user could turn off the iPhone, but its location could still be found. Some people might not want that!

Of course, there are several reasons. Maybe someone wants to surprise their wife when they buy a present – ​​or someone doesn't want their partner to "look" at their location for some reason. From this perspective, Apple also prioritizes privacy. But keep in mind that this is only momentarily.

So watch out for new features. If you turn off your iPhone, a small message will appear informing you that you can also "Temporarily turn off location", as you can see in the images above.

The next time you turn it on, everything will be back on and the device will be discoverable. Now question: but then a thief can use this feature, right? No. He would have to know your code to deactivate it.

To understand how this search system works and how localization is possible, here is a very comprehensive guide that you will enjoy discovering.

Use the Find My app to locate a lost device or item

Learn about the different ways to use the Find My app to locate a lost device or personal item, such as seeing the location on a card or mark it as lost.

If you've lost or don't know where you left an Apple device or personal item, just use the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, or a Mac running the latest macOS signed -in version. signed in to the same Apple ID. You can also use the Find Devices or Find Objects apps on Apple Watch with the latest version of watchOS.

For a supported lost iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac, AirPods, or Beats, you can also use Find My on a device belonging to someone in your Family Sharing group or sign in to iCloud. com/find on a browser. .

What features are available on the device or lost item

Find My features and availability may vary by country or region.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Mac

* Feature only available on MacBooks with an Apple processor.

Apple Watch

AirPods Pro, AirPods Max

AirPods, Beats Products

Third Party Products

Airtag

view on map

1. Open the Search app.
2. Choose the Devices or Objects tab .
3. Select the device or object to see the location on the map. If you belong to a Family Sharing group, you can see the devices in your group.
4. Select Directions to open the location in the Maps app.

If you enable Find My Network, you can see the location of the device or object even if it is not connected to a Wi-Fi or mobile network. The Search Network is an encrypted and anonymous network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices that can help you locate your device or item.

Can't find your device?

Maybe you didn't turn on Find My. If your device is turned off, out of battery, or if more than 24 hours have passed since the last location was sent to Apple, you won't be able to see your device's location. Find out how you can always protect your information.

play a sound

1. Open the Find app.
2. Select the Devices or Things tab.
3. Select your lost device or thing , then select Play Sound. If your device is offline, it will only play a sound after connecting to a network. If the AirTag attached to your item is out of Bluetooth range, the AirTag will not emit sound until it is in range.

For 24 hours after the last use, iPhone will also notify you if you leave your AirPods or Beats products out of Bluetooth range when you're not in an important place, like home or work. Learn more about the Notify if forgotten feature.

Mark the device as lost or enable lost item mode

1. Open the Find My app and select the Devices or Items tab.
2. Select the device or the lost item.
3. Scroll down to Mark as Lost or Lost Mode and select Enable.
4. Follow the on-screen steps if you want to view your contact information about the lost device or item, or if you want to enter a custom message asking anyone who finds the lost device to contact you.
5. Select Enable.

What happens if you enable the Mark as Lost option on the device

The Mark as Lost feature remotely locks your lost iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac with a password, keeping your information safe even if the device goes missing. You can also display a personalized message with your phone number on the locked screen and monitor the location of the device. Learn more about using the Mark as Lost feature.

What happens if you enable Lost Mode for your item

When you enable Lost Mode for a personal item that has an AirTag or compatible third-party product attached, you can share a message with your phone number or email address. If someone finds your AirTag, they can see the message by zooming in and tapping the top of their iPhone or NFC-enabled smartphone on the AirTag to open found.apple.com.

If someone finds your compatible third-party product, they can open the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, select the Objects tab, tap Identify Found Object, and select the object from the list to view your message.

wipe a device

1. Be sure to try the steps outlined above to recover your lost device, as this action cannot be undone.
2. Open the Find My app and select the Devices tab.
3. Select the device you want to remotely wipe.
4. Scroll down and select Erase this device.
5. Select Erase This [dispositivo].

If your lost device is covered by AppleCare+ with theft and loss protection, you don't need to erase the device. You can also file a claim for the lost or stolen device.

What happens if you erase a device?

When you erase your device, all of your information (including credit, debit, or prepaid cards used for Apple Pay) is deleted from your device. This way, you will not be able to locate it with the Locate app.