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What to do if your phone is stolen abroad

Quick answer: Act quickly: use another device to lock or erase the phone, ask your network to suspend the SIM, change your email and banking passwords, tell your bank, report the theft to local police, and then claim on your insurance if you are covered.

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In the first hour

  1. Lock or locate it from another device using Find My iPhone or Google's Find Hub. If it is stolen, lock it or erase it rather than confronting anyone.
  2. Suspend the SIM. Call your network from another phone to bar the SIM, and ask about an eSIM transfer.
  3. Secure your email first, because it can reset your other accounts. Change the password and sign out of all devices.
  4. Tell your bank if banking apps were on the phone, and freeze or replace cards if needed.

Next

  1. Report it to local police and ask for a written report, which insurers usually need.
  2. Change passwords on important accounts, and use your password manager if you have one.
  3. Check accounts for activity you did not do, and tell the service if you find any.
  4. Contact your insurer and keep receipts for replacement costs.

What helps afterwards

Having your IMEI number written down, a recent backup and two-factor authentication set up on another device makes recovery much faster. See the travel security checklist.

If you are in serious difficulty, contact the nearest British embassy or consulate. See GOV.UK foreign travel advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I track a stolen phone?

If tracking was turned on and the phone is online, you can locate it. Do not try to recover it yourself. Give the location to the police.

Should I erase the phone?

Locking it is the first step. Erasing removes your data but may stop tracking, so choose according to what is on it. If you cannot recover it, erase it.

Will my insurance cover it?

It depends on your policy, your limits and whether you reported it to the police. Check the terms.

Keep reading

Checked 12 November 2026. Prices, plans, airline and country rules change, so check the official or provider page before you rely on anything here.