Márton Salomváry
Found an iPhone with passcode and SIM PIN enabled, no ICE contacts, stuck in airplane mode. How should I return it to the owner? Any point in trying to contact Apple? Or the carrier?
Jul 2, 2023 at 9:45amWeb
Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023

So I’ve tried posting to a local Facebook group, supposedly unmoderated, and my post got “declined” (whatever that means).

Tried contacting the carrier in Slovakia (4ka) but they speak no Languages (at least not their online chat).

This phone might become an expensive paperweight :(

Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023

I talked to Apple. They explicitly will not do anything to let the owner and me find each other. IANAL but legally, only 50% of this makes sense.

The person on the phone also hinted at FindMy after I've told them the phone is in airplane mode, therefore I have some doubts about their competence.

Show threadezra 🏳️‍🌈Jul 3, 2023
@mrc airplane mode only affects cell connectivity — wifi, bluetooth, and gps all stay on while in airplane mode, so theoretically i think find my would still work
Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023
@ezra I don't think that's true. And even if it was, there is no way to make it connect to wifi without unlocking.
Show threadezra 🏳️‍🌈Jul 3, 2023

@mrc i flew last week with airplane mode on, all those services still worked. i suppose it depends on the ios version, but i think it’s been that way for a while

true @ impossible to connect to wifi, but find my is supposed to be able to work through just bluetooth (otherwise how would airtags work) … assuming bluetooth wasn’t explicitly turned off

maybe if find my is your only option, the best thing would be to just take the phone with you wherever you go and hope the owner notices?

Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023

@ezra Apple says you need to explicitly turn on Bluetooth in airplane mode, which I can't without unlocking it first: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204234

And this is a 1st gen SE which does not have integrated AirTag / Precision Finding.

Use Airplane Mode on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch

You can use Airplane Mode to turn off the wireless features on your device while you're flying in an airplane.

Apple Support
Show threadezra 🏳️‍🌈Jul 3, 2023

@mrc ooooh, i probably turned on wifi/bluetooth years ago and it remembered that preference all this time later

also, lol, that doc conflicts with itself. above the bit where it says airplane mode turns off bluetooth by default, it explicitly says bluetooth stays on by default

probably 50/50 bluetooth is on, i have no idea if there’s even a way to tell

Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 5, 2023

So I tried again the carrier's online chat. Had to boot up an iPhone simulator because their chat would not work on desktop browser :D

Managed to get my question through, but they told me to fuck off :D (Sort of, but refused to help.)

#CorporateStupidity

Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 5, 2023

As a last resort, called the local (small town) cops. They are "out of office" right now and advised to go to the police station of the nearby towns (10 and 19 km away).

The saga continues! #LostIphone

Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 6, 2023

Episode n+1: went to the next town’s police office 10km away. They said they don’t deal with lost things, even if I reported my own phone to them, the most I get is a paper proof that I lost the thing. There is no list of lost and found things maintained.

I was advised to go to the local government office where I found the phone, they should be responsible for lost&found.

#LostIPhone

Show threadGernotJul 3, 2023

@mrc What about the police? Or the „Lost & Found“ if the place you found it is having something like that? If I was losing a phone that would be the first places where I’d ask. Not the carrier.

But be aware that there is also be a hidden resell/recycling industry that is behind some places you’d think you can trust with lost items: https://9to5mac.com/2023/05/28/lost-ipad-pro-las-vegas/

The worldwide journey of an iPad Pro left behind in a Las Vegas hotel room - 9to5Mac

The saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” apparently doesn’t apply to an iPad Pro left behind in a...

9to5Mac
Show threadGernotJul 3, 2023
@mrc And if it’s a new iPhone (14, maybe 13?) it can be tracked with FindMy over Bluetooth like the AirTags. This can even work if the phone has not SIM, no network, is totally locked and for some time when it has no power. At least charging the battery should keep that feature alive longer.
Show threadGernotJul 3, 2023
@mrc You could also factory reset it with a cable on your Mac via DFU Mode, that should bring you at least to a place where you can connect it to a Wifi. But then activation Lock will block you further, and also all data will be wiped, and you don’t know if the owner has backups. But it could be contacted by FindMy then if it’s in „Lost Mode“ and you might see who owns it.
I don’t know if inserting your own (unlocked?) SIM can make that connection without wiping it.
Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023
@gernot It's a 1st gen SE. I might try my own SIM, that's a good tip!
Show threadGernotJul 3, 2023
@mrc 1st gen SE is not having that integrated AirTag… But it should have FindMy/Lost Mode if it is activation locked and can be connected to a network somehow.
Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023
@gernot Yeah, I'm in a small town in Hungary, police will be my last resort bacause I don't relly trust their competence or willingness to do anything if I turn it in. Interesting read on that iPad journey :)
Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 3, 2023
@gernot Funny thing is, both Apple and the carrier do exactly know who the owner is, where they live, etc. But they rather act as barriers than bridges between the owner and me....
Show threadGernotJul 2, 2023
@mrc Can’t you turn off airplane mode?
Show threadMárton SalomváryJul 2, 2023
@gernot Nope, it insists on unlocking first.