If your Mac is lost or stolen

If you set up Find My Mac before your Mac went missing, you can use Find My to help locate and protect it. If not, you can still take steps to help protect your information.

If you set up Find My for your missing Mac

  1. Open Find My.

    • In the Find My app on another Apple device, select the Devices tab.

    • On the web, sign in to iCloud.com/find, then click All Devices.

  2. Select your Mac to view its location on a map. If your Mac isn't listed, learn how you can still protect your account.

  3. If your Mac is nearby, you can have it play a sound to help you or someone nearby find it.

    After you select your Mac, you can choose to Play Sound, get directions to its location, or turn on Notify When Found.

  4. To help prevent unauthorized access, tap Lost Mode in the Find My app, or select Lock on iCloud.com. On an Intel-based Mac without a T2 security chip, you can remotely lock your Mac with a passcode instead.

    • You can still track your device's location while it's locked as long as it's connected to the internet. If it's offline, the actions take effect the next time your Mac is online.

  5. Report your lost or stolen Mac to local law enforcement. Law enforcement might request the serial number of your Mac. Find your device serial number.

  6. If you don't think you can recover your missing Mac, you can erase it remotely.* This deletes all of your data from your Mac and prevents anyone else from accessing that information. When you erase your Mac, all of your information is deleted from the device, and you won't be able to find it using Find My.

    The Erase Mac screen on an iPhone.

  7. Remove your lost or stolen Mac from your list of trusted devices.

Learn more about using the Find My app to locate a lost or stolen device

* To erase your Mac, the Mac must be powered on and connected to the internet.

If you can't find your Mac or didn't set up Find My

Find My Mac is the only Apple service that can help track or locate a lost Mac. If you didn’t set up Find My Mac before your Mac was lost, or you can’t locate it, these steps might help you protect your data:

  1. Change your Apple Account password to prevent anyone from accessing your iCloud data or using other services (such as iMessage or iTunes) from your Mac.

  2. Change your passwords for other accounts you use with your Mac, including email, banking, and social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

  3. Report your lost or stolen Mac to local law enforcement. They might request the serial number of your computer. You can find this information on the original box or receipt you received when you purchased your Mac.

If you can't unlock your Mac

  • Sign in to iCloud.com/find, then select your Mac from the Devices menu. Select Unlock and follow the steps to verify your identity.

  • Enter the passcode that you created when you locked it with Find My on an Intel-based Mac without a T2 security chip.

  • Take your Mac to an Apple Authorized Service Provider along with your proof of purchase.

You can look up your passcode for a limited time.

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