Lost your phone? Here's how to track it down and recover your data

Discovering your phone was lost or stolen can be a stressful experience. Here are steps to help recover your device and protect your data.

Discovering your phone was lost or stolen can be a stressful experience. Photos, files, passwords and possibly even your banking information can get swiped up in moments.

Luckily, whether you own an iPhone or Android, there are steps you can take to help recover your device and protect your data.

Here's what you should know:

For iPhone: Apple's 'Find My' feature allows users to track their iPhone, iPad and other Apple-related electronics. The app will play a sound on the lost or stolen device to locate it. It can remotely locate the device and even display a message to contact the owner.

Apple also rolled out an update to its iOS operating system with a feature called Stolen Device Protection. The new setting is included with the latest iOS release, version 17.3.

Stolen Device Protection keeps track of a user's "familiar locations," such as their home or workplace, and adds extra security hoops to jump through if someone tries to use the device to do certain things when it's away from those places.

With Stolen Device Protection turned on, the phone will require a Face ID or Touch ID scan to verify that the person is the rightful owner.