Turn on lost-phone settings before you need them

You know that awful feeling when you reach for your phone, and it is suddenly nowhere to be found. Maybe you left it at a restaurant. Maybe it slipped between the car seats. Or maybe somebody walked away with it. The worst time to start figuring out your phone's tracking features is after it disappears. Fortunately, iPhone, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones include powerful tools that can help you locate a missing device and protect the information stored on it. Take a few minutes while your phone is still safely in your hand and make sure these settings are ready.

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Apple's Find My system can help locate an iPhone when it is online. With the right settings enabled, supported iPhones can also remain findable when they are offline or for a period after they have been turned off.

Find My network lets nearby Apple devices securely help locate your iPhone when it cannot connect to Wi-Fi or cellular service. On supported iPhones, Apple says the Find My network can locate the phone for up to 24 hours after it is turned off or up to five hours while it is in power reserve mode. Meanwhile, Send Last Location automatically sends your iPhone's location to Apple when its battery reaches a critically low level. That could give you one more place to check if the battery dies before you realize your phone is missing.

While you are there, I would check another iPhone security feature called Stolen Device Protection. Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode. Tap Stolen Device Protection, then make sure it is turned on. By default, Apple applies its added security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations such as home or work. You can make those protections stronger by choosing Always under Require Security Delay. Stolen Device Protection can require Face ID or Touch ID for sensitive actions. Certain account changes can also trigger a one-hour Security Delay followed by another biometric check. Find My cannot be turned off while Stolen Device Protection is enabled. That extra hurdle can be especially useful if someone steals your iPhone and has also seen or learned your passcode.

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Google now calls its lost-device service Find Hub. If you have added a Google Account to your Pixel, Find Hub is usually enabled automatically. Still, I would check these settings before you ever need them.

For the broadest coverage, choose With network everywhere if that option appears on your Pixel. This lets nearby Android devices help locate your phone when it cannot connect normally.

You should also open Settings > Location and make sure Use location is turned on. Google recommends setting a PIN, pattern or password too. A screen lock helps your Pixel