How to Find a Lost or Stolen Laptop, on Windows or Mac

A lost or stolen laptop is one of the most unsettling things to deal with, especially when it happens without warning — left in a car, a coffee shop, or a suitcase. Most people don't think about how to find it until it's already gone, and by then it's too late to turn on the tool that could have helped.

The good news is that Windows and Mac computers both have a free, built-in way to locate a missing laptop. Setting it up takes a few minutes, and it only works if you turn it on before anything happens.

Here's how to turn it on for Windows or Mac, and what to do if your laptop is ever lost or stolen.

Why this has to be turned on ahead of time

Windows calls this feature "Find my device." Apple calls its version "Find My Mac." Both do the same basic job: if your laptop is connected to the internet, you can sign in from another device or web browser and see roughly where it is, lock it so no one can get past the sign-in screen, or sign it out of your accounts.

None of that works if the feature was never turned on. It can't reach back in time and start tracking a laptop that's already missing. That's the one thing to do today, even if you never need it.

How to turn on Find My Device on a Windows PC

1. Press the Windows key and I together to open Settings, or open Settings from the Start menu.
2. Select Privacy & security on the left.
3. Select Find my device.
4. Turn the switch on.

Two things have to be true for this to work. First, you need to be signed in to Windows with a Microsoft account, not just a local account — if you're not sure which one you have, this screen will tell you. Second, Location services needs to be turned on, under the same Privacy & security section. If Find my device shows a warning instead of turning on, that's usually why.

How to turn on Find My Mac

On a Mac, this is a two-part setup, and both parts need to be done.

Part one — turn on Location Services:

1. Click the Apple menu, then System Settings.
2. Select Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
3. Select Location Services and turn it on.
4. Find Find My in the list of apps below it and make sure it's turned on too.

Part two — turn on Find My Mac:

1. Still in System Settings, click your name at the top of the sidebar.
2. Select iCloud.
3. Find Find My Mac in the list (click Show All if you don't see it right away).
4. Click Turn On, and allow it to use your location when asked.

You'll need to be signed in with your Apple Account for this to appear. Turning on Find My Mac also turns on the ability to lock or erase the Mac remotely later, which you'll only use if the laptop is actually missing.

What to do if your laptop is lost or stolen

If this is already turned on, you can act right away from any other computer or phone:

• For Windows: go to account.microsoft.com/devices on any browser, sign in, and find the missing PC in the list. You can see its last known location and lock it.
• For Mac: go to iCloud.com/find on any browser, sign in with your Apple Account, and select the Mac from the list. You can see its location, play a sound, lock it, or erase it if you're sure it won't be recovered.

Locking the laptop right away is usually the better first move over waiting and hoping no one looks through it. A lock screen with your password on it keeps your files and accounts out of reach while you sort out the rest.

It's worth knowing that this is about finding or locking a lost or stolen laptop — it doesn't protect the computer from viruses, scams, or phishing while you're using it day to day. That's a separate job, and it's what PorchswingProtect is built for: quiet, ongoing protection against viruses, scams, and dangerous pop-ups on a Windows or Mac computer.

What to do if you're stuck

If the Settings screen doesn't look quite like what's described here, or something already feels wrong with your laptop, you don't have to sort it out alone. We can help in your home or remotely, and we'll walk through it with you at your own pace.

If you want quiet protection on your Windows or Mac computer — with a real Porchswing person to call — learn about PorchswingProtect. Or call us at (916) 521-0065 and we'll help you set it up.

Common questions

Does this work if the laptop is turned off?

No. The laptop needs to be powered on and connected to the internet for its location to show up or for a lock command to reach it. If it's off, you'll see its last known location from before it was turned off, which can still be useful to share with the police.

Will turning this on slow down my computer?

No. Both features run quietly in the background and don't affect how your laptop runs day to day.

Does PorchswingProtect include this feature?

No. PorchswingProtect focuses on stopping viruses, scams, phishing, and scary pop-ups on a Windows or Mac computer. Find My Device and Find My Mac are separate, free tools built into Windows and Mac themselves — and this article is how to turn them on.