The FindMy feature on Apple devices is a godsend for anyone who constantly loses their phone or tablet. It can also be a lifesaver if your Apple device is stolen. Assuming the thief doesn’t remember FindMy, you can literally track your device’s movements in real time, reporting that information to the police. This alone is a good reason why iOS Location Services should be enabled at all times. But did you know that you can also find your iPhone with an Apple Watch?
Read more: How to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch
QUICK RESPONSE
To find your iPhone with an Apple Watch, make sure both are paired, both are signed in to the same Apple ID, and location services are enabled on the iPhone. FindMy must also be enabled on the iPhone. Then go to Find devices on Apple Watch, tap iPhone, then tap play sound.
How to ping your phone and find it instantly
We’re going to assume you’ve already paired the iPhone and Apple Watch, which means they’ll be signed in to the same Apple ID. On the iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Enable Rental services. Then press Share my location.
find my iphone should be enabled, so if it’s not, tap on it.
Enable all three options on this screen.
Find your iPhone with Apple Watch
Now that all the groundwork has been laid, let’s find our misplaced iPhone. On the Apple Watch, press the crown on the right side of the watch and scroll to Find devices.
Find the device you want to locate and tap on it.
You will now see your device’s location on a map. But if you’re within Bluetooth range of your device, you can trigger a sonar-like noise on your device to find it faster.
Scroll to To find. You will see an option called play sound. Press it, and Stopped will change to Playing. The phone will now start making a loud noise (and it gets louder the longer it lasts.) Just follow the noise until you find your device. Even if your phone is muted, the sound will still play. The FindMy app overrides the mute setting.
Once you find your phone, next you need to mute the noise. To do this, tap the on-screen alert and unlock your device. The noise will then stop. You will receive an email notification that the FindMy feature has been used, but you can simply remove it.
FAQs
Yes, the iPhone will override the mute function and still emit a noise.
Your Apple Watch must be paired with the iPhone and connected via Bluetooth. Normal Bluetooth range is approximately 33 feet (10 meters), but this may vary depending on your environment. If something is blocking your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection (thick walls, other Bluetooth devices), this range could be significantly reduced.
Yes, but for obvious reasons the phone won’t be able to make noise for you to locate it. You will only be able to see the location of the phone on a map.