How to find a lost or stolen laptop

Whether you lost your laptop on the subway or realize it was stolen from a coffee shop, losing your computer can send you into a full-on panic, and rightfully so. Laptops are not only expensive, but they're full of personal data, from work documents and banking info to family photos and website passwords. But a lost laptop doesn't have to ruin your day. Here is a step-by-step guide from Asurion Experts to help you locate your lost or stolen laptop.

Protect your device before it's lost

“Can you help me find my laptop?" If you've ever posed that question to a friend, or even a stranger, you know how frustrating the experience of losing your computer can be. But there are steps you can take before misplacing your laptop, that can help you find it if it's ever lost—and prevent a security breach.

Both Windows™ and Mac® devices come with built-in tools—Find My Device and the Apple® Find My feature, respectively—that allow you to track your device should you ever lose it. And they don't just work on computers; they can be applied to a range of devices and software versions. Here's how to set them up.

How to turn on Find My Device on Windows

1. Go to Start>Settings>Update & Security>Find my device
2. Select Change for the device you want to change to turn on Find my device

Now, when locating your Windows device, you can sign in to your Microsoft account to locate it.

How to turn on Find My Mac

The first step to finding your Mac laptop, or any other Apple device, is turning on Location Services and setting up Find My Mac. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn on Location Services

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu>System Preferences>Security & Privacy, then click Privacy.
2. Look at the lower-left corner: If the lock at the bottom is locked, click it to unlock the preference pane (you may have to enter your password).
3. Click Location Services on the left.
4. Select Enable Location Services and Find My in the list of apps.
5. If you don't see Find My, go to System Services in the list of apps, click Details, then choose Find My Mac.

Set up Find My Mac

1. Click on the Apple menu at the top left, then go to System Preferences>Apple ID.
2. If you are not signed in to an Apple ID, click Sign In.
3. Click iCloud in the sidebar.
4. Add a checkmark next to Find My Mac, and if asked, click Allow when asked if you're sure.

Now when locating your computer, you can use the Find My app to find your Mac.