Lost your phone while traveling

Losing your phone abroad means no maps, tickets, translation or way to call home. Here is how to get back on track.

What to do, step by step

  1. Stay safe and let someone know

    Move somewhere safe and borrow a phone from a hotel desk, a shop or another traveler. Tell someone at home that you are okay.

  2. Find your key details

    You need your hotel address, booking numbers and flight details. Check hotel emails from a computer, or ask the front desk. If you saved your trip in advance, an assistant can read it back.

  3. Lock or locate your phone

    Use Find My or Find Hub from any browser to locate, lock or mark the phone as lost.

  4. Protect your cards

    Call your bank's international or collect number and block cards that were on the phone or in a wallet that was lost with it.

  5. Get help from your embassy if needed

    If your passport was lost too, contact your country's embassy or consulate. The US State Department runs a line for US citizens abroad.

  6. Replace the phone

    Buy a basic local phone or SIM to stay connected until you are home, and restore your own number later through your carrier.

Call a backup plan from any phone

OperatorDirect is a phone line with an AI assistant. Set it up before you need it, then call from any borrowed phone to reach the people and details you saved.

Already set up? Call 1-844-HELP-077 and enter your number and PIN.

Set up your backup plan How a call works

Common questions

What should I save before I travel?

Save your hotel address and phone, flight and booking numbers, your bank's international lost-card number, two or three family numbers, and your carrier's support number somewhere that does not depend on your phone.

Can I call home from a borrowed phone abroad?

Usually yes, though international rates may apply to the person who lent it. Offer to pay, or use a messaging service on a computer.

How can OperatorDirect help on a trip?

It stores the numbers and itinerary you saved before the trip. Call the line from any phone, verify, and ask for your hotel, your bank or a family member.

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