Find My iPhone is a new feature in the upcoming (June 17 2009 release) iPhone OS 3.0. You need to also be using Apple’s MobileMe service in order to use it. I am currently running the final ‘Gold Master’ pre-release version of iPhone OS 3.0 and have an active MobileMe account, so I thought I’d offer up a quick how-to on using this clever new feature.
It’s very easy to use this feature. Here’s how:
You need to have your MobileMe account setup on the iPhone. You do not have to turn any of its sync options on if you don’t need them. I have mine all set to off, with just the Find My iPhone setting turned on.
To ensure that you can make full use of Find My iPhone, you’ll need to ensure that Location Services are turned on, on the iPhone. You do this by going to the Settings app, tapping on the General button, and tapping on ‘On’ next to the Location Services entry.
Next, you need to go to your MobileMe home page in a web browser – and make sure you switch to the ‘Account’ section (the little person icon to the far right of the listing of section icons). Then you should see Find My iPhone listed at the bottom of the left-hand pane of the screen …
If you’ve done the things mentioned above, then as soon as you click on Find My iPhone MobileMe will begin locating it – and after a few minutes (or less), it will show your phone’s current location on its Google Maps area. You can switch between standard, satellite, and hybrid map views.
Just below the Google Maps view in the right-hand pane, you have options to send a message to your iPhone (useful if you’ve misplaced it somewhere round the house or office) and to trigger an alert message sound for two minutes as well – so you can track your phone down if it’s close by. To do this, just tap the ‘Display a Message’ button and enter your message, and tick the check box if you want an alert sound to play.
If you fear your iPhone was stolen and have confidential information on it, then you can use the Remote Wipe button to permanently delete all media and data on the iPhone and restore it to factory settings. Obviously, this is an irreversible operation and one you’d want to handle with great care.
And that’s about it – that’s the Find My iPhone feature.
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
So if someone "finds" my phone all they have to do is turn off location services and then I can use find my iPhone?
machric – I think you meant to ask whether if someone turns off Location Services then you *cannot* use Find My iPhone. If so, the answer is yes – you would not be able to use it to identify the phone's current location …
But if you have your screen password locked then they can't get in there. I already tried this FindMyiPhone feature and it works great.
With the map posted, it should be called the "Tease Me About Where My iPhone Is Located" feature.
"Yes, Detective, Apple says it's in one of these 10 houses…."
"Honey! It's somewhere in the house… Or at the neighbors.. (Or crap, I left it at HER house last night…)"
"Hmm.. Maybe on the lawn?!?!"
With the map posted, it should be called the "Tease Me About Where My iPhone Is Located" feature.
"Yes, Detective, Apple says it's in one of these 10 houses…."
"Honey! It's somewhere in the house… Or at the neighbors.. (Oh jeez… Did I leave it at HER house last night??? I'm dead meat.)"
"Hmm.. Maybe on the lawn?!?!"
Jared – good point, and glad it's working well for you.
Joe – LOL
Here's another good question: Is it tied to the UDID or the phone number? What happens if "the thief" changes the SIM card?
Hey joe – I believe it is tied to your MobileMe login and therefore all iDevices synced using your MobileMe account.
Also, AI's write-up of the service explains that "Find My iPhone" uses something similar to an IM ping rather than SMS to push a notification telling the iPhone to respond with its current location. The location services of iPhone OS uses any of the 3 available methods (GPS, WIFI, and Cellular) to send back its location. I believe I've seen someone comment that it works on their Touch as well. So I think, even if someone were to switch the SIM card, it would still work.
You could test by taking the SIM card out while trying the locate.
I don't currently have MobileMe or I might just do that. Thanks for clarifying it!
If you give it a few minutes it refines the location and the target gets smaller. It's very accurate and usually puts your iphone at the center if the target no matter how big it is.
Eric – thanks for sharing that. I think I probably never gave it long enough in testing to see that. Will give it another go soon …
Oh, and Joe – that's a fine question – I don't know the answer though – haven't seen that stated anywhere …
Patrick – Is there any way to setup the comment system to indent the replies a little? And also, I'm wondering what's with the trailing ellipses on every one of your comments?
aflorence – indenting of comments – not sure, but doubt it. Intense Debate does not have a huge range of options for now – will double check though.
The trailing ellipses – LOL – an odd little habit of mine. I used to use that as a way of finishing a line in an email when I was rushed and couldn't really finish a thought. It just sort of mushroomed from there.
Re: indented replies – check out the iPhone-Dev blog; they're apparently using IntenseDebate also but when you click the disclosure triangle replies are indented along with a visual indication that it is a reply(an arrow pointing inward)
Re: trailing ellipses – That's actually a pretty nice technique now that you mention it. It serves well as a flag to revise since you can search for "…" and finish or polish the thought later. I just might have to gank that one
aflorence – I had another look at the ID settings and selected 'Enable Threads'. Is this more what you were thinking of? On the trailing ellipses, gank away by all means. I have to admit though, I rarely return to finish or polish.
Yes! The conversations are MUCH easier to follow now. Thanks!
Great – glad to hear it! Thank you for the feedback and suggestion on this – much appreciated.
that was very easy and usefull… thanks buddy
Pleasure – glad it helped.
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