Start with the built-in location tools on your device

Most tablets have a tracking feature built in that you can use from another device or a computer. If you own an iPad, use Find My iPad through iCloud.com or the Find My app on another Apple device — sign in with your Apple ID and you'll see your tablet's location on a map, even if it's powered off. If you have an Android tablet, use Find My Mobile (Samsung tablets) or Google Find My Mobile, which works the same way: sign in on a computer or another phone, and the service will show you where your tablet is and let you ring it, lock it, or erase it remotely.

These tools work best if you set them up before your tablet goes missing. If you haven't done that yet, you can still try signing into the service from a computer or another device to see if your tablet is registered. The location won't be exact — it might show a neighborhood or building rather than a room — but it's often enough to tell you whether your tablet is still at home, at work, or somewhere else entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple tablets can be located through iCloud.com or the Find My app using your Apple ID; Android tablets through Google Find My Mobile or Samsung Find My Mobile.
  • Check your home and workplace first — retrace your steps from the last time you remember using it, including bags, under cushions, and near charging cables.
  • Call the location where you last used your tablet and describe it to staff; many tablets left in public places are turned in to lost and found.
  • If your tablet is lost outside your home, contact local police to file a report, which you may need if you want to pursue the device through your insurance.
  • Change your passwords from another device if you believe your tablet was stolen, and contact your tablet's manufacturer to report it as lost.

Search your home and the places you visit regularly

Before you assume your tablet is gone for good, retrace your steps through the places where you spend the most time. Check under couch cushions, between bed sheets, in kitchen drawers, and on nightstands — tablets slip into unexpected places. Look in bags you use regularly: backpacks, purses, gym bags, and work bags. Check near any charging cables or docks you own, since tablets are often left plugged in and forgotten.

If you use your tablet at work, at a library, at a coffee shop, or at a friend's house, call those locations and ask if anyone has turned in a tablet matching your description. Many public places keep lost items for 30 days or longer before discarding them. Give staff the color, size, and any distinctive features like a case or screen protector. If you remember the last place you used it, start there.

Use your tablet's remote features if you can't locate it physically

Once you've confirmed your tablet is registered with a tracking service and you know roughly where it is, you have options beyond just looking for it. You can make your tablet ring loudly, which helps if it's buried under something in your home or nearby. You can also lock it remotely so no one can access your files, photos, or accounts — this is important if you think someone else has it.

If you're certain your tablet is lost or stolen and you don't think you'll recover it, you can erase it remotely. This deletes all the data on the device, which protects your privacy but also means you won't be able to locate it anymore. Do this only when you're ready to give up on finding the physical tablet. Some services let you leave a message on the lock screen with your phone number, in case someone finds it and wants to return it.

File a report if your tablet was lost outside your home

If you lost your tablet in public — at a store, on public transportation, at a park, or somewhere similar — contact the local police non-emergency line and file a lost property report. You don't need to file a police report for a tablet lost at home, but if it was lost outside, a report creates an official record. This matters if you want to claim the loss on your homeowner's or renter's insurance, or if you want to pursue the device through your carrier's insurance.

When you file the report, have your tablet's serial number ready. You can find this in your device's settings or on your original receipt or box. Describe the tablet's color, size, case, and any other identifying marks. Ask the police department if they have a lost and found database you can check, or if they can contact you if someone turns in a matching device.

Protect your accounts and contact your tablet's manufacturer

If you believe your tablet was stolen rather than straightforward lost, change your passwords from another device as soon as possible. Start with the email account linked to your tablet, then move to banking apps, social media, and any other accounts with sensitive information. This prevents someone from using your tablet to access your accounts or change your passwords.

Contact your tablet's manufacturer — Apple, Samsung, Google, or whoever made it — and report the device as lost. Provide the serial number and explain the situation. Some manufacturers maintain lists of lost devices and can flag yours so it can't be reactivated if someone tries to set it up. You can also contact your mobile carrier if your tablet has a cellular plan; they can suspend service on that device so no one can use it to make calls or use data.

Check your insurance and consider your next steps

Review your homeowner's, renter's, or mobile device insurance policy to see whether a lost tablet is covered. Most policies cover theft but not loss, though some plans include accidental loss. You'll typically need the police report (if filed outside your home), proof of purchase, and the device's serial number. Contact your insurance company to ask what documentation they need and whether your deductible applies.

If your tablet isn't covered by insurance or the deductible is high, you may decide to replace it yourself. Compare the cost of a new tablet to the deductible and the hassle of the claim. If you do replace it, set up the tracking feature on the new device right away so you're prepared if it goes missing again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track my tablet if I never set up Find My or Google Find My Mobile before it went missing?

No, you need to have set up the tracking service before the tablet was lost. However, you can still try signing into the service from a computer to see if your tablet was automatically registered when you first set it up. If it was, you may be able to see its last known location.

What if my tablet is turned off?

Apple's Find My can locate an iPad even when it's powered off, as long as it has a battery charge. Android's Find My Mobile can also show the last location where your tablet was powered on. The location won't update in real time, but it gives you a starting point.

Will the tracking service tell me the exact room where my tablet is?

No, the location is usually accurate to within a few hundred feet — it might show your neighborhood, your building, or your street, but not a specific room. If your tablet is at home, you'll need to search physically once you know it's there.

Can I track my tablet if someone else is using it?

Yes, as long as the tracking service is still active on the device. The location will update as the tablet moves. However, if someone erases the tablet and sets it up with a different account, you won't be able to track it anymore.

What should I do if I find my tablet but it won't turn on?

Plug it into a charger and wait 15 to 30 minutes before trying to power it on. If it still won't turn on after charging, take it to the manufacturer's service center or an authorized repair shop. Don't try to force it on or disassemble it yourself.