Just as you can lose your iPhone or iPad, it can happen that you either forget your computer or it is stolen. That is why it is necessary that you have the Find My Mac option configured, because that way, in case it happens, you will be able to locate it in a few simple steps. In this post we tell you how you can configure it.
Set up Find My Mac
So that in case of loss or theft you can find your computer in a few minutes, you have to have the Find My Mac option activated. As in other Apple devices such as iPhone or iPad, this option allows you to find your device through of any other. It works exactly the same as on other Apple devices, and it can be very useful if you are someone who goes everywhere with your computer or if you are a little absent-minded and can lose or forget it anywhere.
What is Find My Mac for?
As we have said before, this option is used so that you can find your computer if it is stolen or lost. It is true that it is difficult to lose a laptop, but you can forget it somewhere, inside a backpack or bag. That is why it is important to always have this option activated. It doesn’t make any big changes to how your Mac works, so you have no excuse not to activate it.
Surely you already know how this system works on an iPhone, since at some point we have all had to look for a mobile, either ours or that of a friend or acquaintance. On Mac it works quite similar, you just have to activate it and with your iCloud account you will be able to locate it.
Steps to follow to configure it
- On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud. If prompted to sign in, enter your Apple ID or, if you don’t have one, click Create a new Apple ID and follow the instructions.
- Select Find My Mac. If you’re asked to confirm that Find My Mac uses the location of your Mac, click Allow.
- If a Details button appears next to Find My Mac, click the button, choose “Open Security and Privacy,” then choose “Turn on Location Services.”
- The Details button appears if Location Services is turned off in Security & Privacy preferences.
If “Turn On Location Services” is grayed out in “Security & Privacy” preferences, click the lock icon and enter the name and password of a computer administrator. - For added security, make sure all user accounts have strong passwords and auto-login is turned off in Users & Groups preferences.
For instructions, see Change your login password on Mac. To open Users & Groups preferences, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
So you can locate it
When you need to find and protect your missing Mac, do any of the following:
- Use another computer : Go to icloud.com/find to use the Find My iPhone app on iCloud.com. Use a web browser for Mac or Windows that meets the iCloud system requirements.
- Use an iOS device – Use the Find My iPhone app.
For more information, tap Help in the Find My iPhone app.
With the Find My iPhone app on iCloud.com or on an iOS device, you can:
- Find your Mac on a map: See the approximate location of your Mac when it’s connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- Play a sound with your Mac: If you think you’ve lost your Mac somewhere nearby, you can have it play a sound to help you find it. This option is most commonly used on smaller Apple devices, such as the Apple Watch.
- Lock your Mac: If you can’t find your Mac, you can lock it with a passcode so no one else can use it. This may be the first step to follow if you suspect that it may have been stolen or if you do not want anyone to know the information you have saved.
- Wipe Mac – Remotely wipe everything on your Mac, and lock it with a passcode so no one else can use it.
Before you erase your Mac, try to find it on a map and have it play a sound. After removing it, you will not be able to use Find My iPhone for these processes. However, you can see the location where you were last connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Note that if your Mac is turned off or offline when you try to do any of the above, the actions take place the next time your computer connects to the Internet. For this reason, you have to make sure that it has an Internet connection, because if you try to look for it and it doesn’t have it, it won’t do any good and you’ll have to watch the app all day long.
If you can’t find your Mac or haven’t set up Find My
Find My Mac is the only Apple service that can help you track or locate a missing Mac. If you haven’t set up Find My Mac before you lose it, or if you can’t find it, these steps might help you protect your data:
- Change your Apple ID password to prevent anyone from accessing your iCloud data or using other services (like iMessage or iTunes) from your Mac.
- Change passwords for other accounts you use with your Mac, such as email, bank, and social networking accounts like Facebook or Twitter.
- Report your Mac lost or stolen to the police. You may be prompted for the computer’s serial number. You can find this information on the original box or receipt you received when you bought your Mac.
- Another option you can do is search on websites for buying and selling second-hand products. It would not be the first time that a user recovers his stolen device thanks to this type of portal.
