Find your lost or stolen Mac

Why it happens

If Find My Mac was turned on, your Mac reports where it is to your Apple Account. Find My on any of your devices can show it on a map and send it commands. It also keeps Activation Lock on, so nobody else can set it up as their own.

How to fix it

1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad or another Mac. On someone else's computer or phone, go to iCloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple Account.

2. Open Devices and choose your Mac from the list. Its last known place shows on the map.

   Find My›Devices

3. If it looks close by, play a sound and follow it to the Mac.

4. If you can't get it back yet, mark it as lost. The Mac locks, and it can show a message and a phone number on its screen for whoever finds it.

5. Erase it only when you're sure it's gone for good. After erasing, you may no longer see where it is, but Activation Lock stays on.

Still not fixed?

1. If the Mac shows no location, it's either offline or Find My Mac wasn't turned on. Mark it as lost anyway: the lock and message take effect next time it goes online.

2. If it was stolen, report it to the police. Give them the serial number, which is on the box, the receipt, and in your device list at account.apple.com.

3. Change your Apple Account password and any passwords saved on that Mac, especially for email and banking.

4. Don't remove the Mac from your Apple Account while you still hope to get it back. Removing it switches off Activation Lock.

5. Contact Apple Support if you need help securing your Apple Account. They can't track the Mac for you, but they can help keep your account and data safe.