Lost or stolen work phone — first steps
This is a stressful situation, but a few quick actions can limit the risk of a data leak. Act as fast as you can, ideally from another device.
What to do right away
Locate the phone from another device
Sign in to the linked account (such as Find My iPhone or Find My Device) from a computer or another phone to check its last known location.
Lock the phone remotely if you can
The same location tools usually let you lock the screen remotely, so no one can use the data and apps saved on it.
Change the passwords for accounts logged in on the phone
Start with company email and your most important apps. Changing a password from another device often automatically signs the phone out of all sessions.
Notify IT and your manager immediately
The sooner the company knows about it, the sooner it can lock down access to company systems and assess what data might be at risk.
Consider a remote wipe if the phone won't be recovered
If the location suggests the phone isn't coming back, a remote factory reset removes the data from it — that's an irreversible action, so it's best to check with IT first.
Why timing matters
The longer a lost phone stays active and signed in to company accounts, the greater the risk that someone gains access to sensitive data. Reacting quickly in the first few minutes matters more than doing every step perfectly.
When it's a job for IT
- You don't know how to locate or remotely lock that particular phone model.
- The phone held client data, company documents, or access to internal systems.
- The incident involves theft — it's worth reporting to IT regardless of whether you've filed a police report.
Want us to check it with you?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.