How to Recover Your Lost Phone Left in an Uber (Fast & Easy) (2025 Updated)

While many people think that finding a lost phone from Uber should be an easy task, it can be quite challenging. Elsa had posted on an Apple forum seeking advice on how to retrieve a lost iPhone from an Uber driver. She called the driver but to no avail. What to do if the driver won’t return your phone? To help you retrieve your phone, this article will provide you with some methods. Look no further if you are searching for this.

Steps to Take Right After You Lose Your Phone in an Uber

Always remember, if you lose your phone in an Uber car, there are three things to do first.

Call Your Phone Number

Call your own phone number at the very first available opportunity. If someone has picked up your lost cell phone, they may receive a call from you. In this way, you can contact the address, thus obtaining the cell phone. However, it all depends on the person who found the phone and they decide whether or not to return your phone.

Contact the Uber Driver

Contact the driver through your Uber account. If they don’t answer the phone, you can leave a message. 

After answering the call, stay polite because they may be more cooperative with you and more willing to help if they are treated with respect. Always keep in mind that the driver will not be responsible for your lost phone. If the driver agrees to return your phone, Uber will charge you $20, paying for the driver for the time cost.

Report A Lost Phone in Uber

Ideally, the driver finds and returns your lost phone to you straight away. However, more often than not, things don’t go as planned. You won’t be able to reach the driver at all, and the driver may not be able to find your phone. Thankfully, Uber allows you to submit a lost item and helps you to contact the driver.

👉Here’s how:

1. Use another phone and log in to your Uber account.
2. Tap the menu that has three horizontal lines on the upper left side.

3. Tap on the Help button.

4. Choose your trip and tap on to report an issue with this trip.

5. Tap on I lost an Item.

6. There are two options for you to choose from. Contact your driver for the lost item and reach out to Uber when you cannot contact the driver.

7. If you choose to contact the driver, tap the option and enter your phone number so that others can reach you. Your phone will ring and you will be connected directly to the driver. When the driver agrees to return your lost phone, arrange for a place and time to get it.

8. If you choose the second option, you can report the lost item to Uber. Just fill in the details of the lost phone and submit the report.

How to Locate My Lost Phone Instantly

After you contact the driver and Uber, you can also use some method of tracking the lost phone yourself, which is not contradictory.

How to Locate A Lost iPhone

Find My iPhone

Find My iPhone is an Apple service that is used to locate the iPhone, and it is a part of security services. It combines the old Find My iPhone and Find My Friends features. This feature is compatible with iOSS 13+.

Before your phone is lost, you should set it up:

1. Go to the settings > tap your name > iCloud.
2. Locate and tap Find My > turn on Find My iPhone.
3. Open the Find My iPhone app.

After your phone is lost, you can use another iOS device to track the phone. But, this only works when the devices are logging in with the same Apple ID. 

1. Use another iOS device with your Apple ID.
2. Open Find My iPhone.
3. Select the lost device in all the devices list. 
4. On the screen, you will see the iPhone’s location on the map (it will work only when the device is internet-connected).

5. Alternatively, you can turn on the bee sound, mark the phone as lost, or erase the device.

iCloud

You can track your lost iPhone via iCloud. Here are the steps.

1. Go to the icloud.com/find and log in to your Apple account.
2. Select the lost device in all devices.
3. After the selection, the device will be located (only when the internet is connected)
4. The location will be shown on the map.

Apple Watch

As long as you turn on the Find My iPhone, you can use your Apple Watch to track the lost phone. However, it can only track the lost phone that is near you and only works when the device is internet-connected.

1. On the main screen of your Apple Watch. 
2. Choose the phone shape button.
3. If your lost phone is near you, there will be a sound indicating the direction of the lost phone.
   

How to Locate A Lost Android Phone

Google’s Find My Device

When you use any of the Google Products, it will sign up for you in Find My Device automatically unless you turn it off. To help users get back their lost phones, Google released this feature, which is similar to iPhone Find My Device. It allows you to leave a lock screen message, play a sound to the lost phone, locate the device, etc.

• Go to the Google Find My Device page. 
• Log in to your Google account.
• The location of the phone will be shown on the map.

Samsung Find My Mobile

Samsung Find My Mobile, aka SmartThings Find, is a Samsung app that remotely locates and controls Samsung Galaxy series smartphones and tablets. The app requires you to turn on its remote control and remote unlock features in order to use it.

Before your phone is lost, set it up: 

1. Open the settings of the Galaxy phone.
2. Open the settings of the Galaxy phone.
3. Tap Find My Mobile.
4. Turn on Allow this phone to be found and any other options.

If you find that your phone is lost:

1. Go to the Find My Mobile page and log in to your Samsung account.
2. Then, you will see all the devices you have in the list. 
3. Select the lost device and the location of it will be shown on the map.

How to Locate a Lost Phone Using Google Maps Timeline

Google Maps has a feature called Timeline. It will keep a record of your phone that you have used in various places. When your phone is lost, you can find its last location if you have used the app on your phone. However, Google Maps timeline can only record the location when it is internet-connected, and you should turn it on before your phone is lost.

Before your phone is lost, you should set it up:

1. Open your Google account. 

2. Locate Timeline and turn it on.

1. After your phone is lost, here is how to track the lost phone:
2. Go to the Google Maps and log in to your Google account.
3. Click on the Timeline option.

4. Click on Today to switch to another date when your phone is lost. And you will see the last location where your iPhone is lost.

How to Locate Lost Phones with A Phone Number

Here is another way to track your lost phone is to track your phone number. And one of the best phone number tracking service providers is MLocator. It has a high precision within 3 meters of error. You do not need to download and install any apps or use any other phones. It is a legitimate tracking service you can feel assured of using. 

1. Just go to the MLocator’s page, enter the phone number of the lost phone to start the tracking process.
2. MLocator will start tracking your lost phone and find its last location. This process might take a while.
3. Receive the geolocation result by entering your email address. The real-time location will be sent to you on a map.

What to Do If You Can’t Get Your Phone Back

If you’ve tried all possible ways but still can’t retrieve your phone, don’t panic. There are important steps you can take to protect your data, secure your accounts, and move forward safely.

Call the Police

If you have not succeeded in retrieving your cell phone by any of the above methods, you can choose to call the police. Provide the IMEI number of your lost cell phone to make it easier for the police to locate your phone via IMEI number.

Contact Your Cellular Carrier 

If your cell phone is picked up by someone else, you could suffer property loss and information leakage. Report your lost phone to your Cellular Carrier, providing the IMEI number. They can block the lost phone to make it unable to call, receive and send messages, and access the internet.

Cancel Your Accounts and Change Your Passwords

In order to protect your data and property security, all your important account passwords need to be reset to prevent unauthorized people from using the information in your phone for illegal activities.

Wipe Your Phone Data Remotely

Apart from the above methods, in the worst situation, you need to erase all the data inside your lost cell phone to keep your personal information safe.

1. iPhone

Go to the iCloud page and log in with your Apple ID. Select the lost device and click on the Erase This Device button and then follow the instructions.

2. Android

Go to the Google Find My Device page and log in with your Google account.

Select the lost device and choose to erase the device. Follow the instructions.

Inform Your Friends & Families

In order to protect those close to you from being scammed, you also need to inform your family and friends that you have lost your cell phone and that any messages to borrow money or anything else suspicious should not be trusted.

Recover Data from Your Cloud Backup

If you have backed up your files in the lost phone, you can use the backup files to recover to another device.

1. iPhone

1. Go to the iCloud page using a browser and log in with your Apple ID.
2. Choose the files that you want to recover.
3. Click on the Recover button to get them.

2. Android

1. Go to the Google Drive page and log in with your Google account.
2. Find the files you want to recover and click on the Restore button by right-clicking the file.

Bonus Tips on How to Avoid Misplacing Your Mobile Device

Taking precautions is always the most important thing. Keep the following tips in mind to prevent losing your cell phone.

• Always put your phone in the same location and do not put it in the back pocket.
• Prepare a special space for the phone so that you can find it without hassle.
• Use the appropriate apps, like Find My Device to prevent phone loss.
• Make your phone look more visible with some colorful accessories like stickers, straps, or phone cases.
• Check your phone every time you get out of the car.
• Be more careful from now on.

FAQ

Does AppleCare Cover Lost Phones?

YES. AppleCare+ includes Theft and Loss for iPhone every 12 months with up to 2 times. However, you may need to pay the service fee and tax.

How to Unpair Apple Watch From Lost Phones?

1. Open settings on the Apple Watch > General.

2. Select Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Can I Check a Text Message From My Lost Phone?

NO. You can not check the messages on your lost phone. However, if you have backed up your phone’s messages, you can check the old messages using the backup files.

Conclusion

Losing your phone while taking an Uber can be a headache. But if you take quick action, there is still a chance to get it back. Remember to call your cell phone at the time you find the phone is lost and contact the driver. If you are lucky, you will not suffer much trouble in the follow-up. Remember that you should protect yourself from property loss and personal information leaking at any time. Change your password and report the lost phone to the police and phone carrier.