Lost my iPad - Questions re Lost Mode & Erasing

[thedoc46]

So i've lost my iPad air 2 LTE..

Using Find My iPhone, it only shows as Offline. I pulled apart my house, car and workplace apart trying to find it. Its gone... Worst part is i have no idea how and why. I must of done something stupid as in left it in a store, or it was stolen and i never realized it was gone. I don't use it a lot, so i'm really scratching my head over this one. Called the last place where i remembered taking it, and they said no-one had handed it in.

Worst part, is it could have been anytime in June, as i only use it now and again. Never lost anything ever before..

Anyway, as of yesterday, I do have Notify When Found, and 'Lost Mode Pending' activated, with my number. But guessing the battery is dead, or its been found and the finder never had the Lost Mode Pending when it needed it the most, and back then he/she if a good Samaritan, wouldn't of known who to call, to return it..

I know its a brick with Find My iPhone on... But obviously still am worried about them getting on. Probably being paranoid, but worried my finger marks will give them half a chance of guessing my passcode.

Again, not rec'd any notifications about anyone trying to chance my passcode / apple ID password, and i do have two step security on it, but wouldn't texts also goto the iPad ? One thing i did check was cellular data usage.. No-one has used any cellular data since the 5th of this month, so i think i'm ok..

But was wondering, if i elect to Erase iPad, in Find My iPhone, will that wipe it completely and therefore allow them to use it as a new iPad, or are there any known risks to leaving it as Pending ? If it was stolen, then its a little comfort i guess to know they can't make any profit from this.. On the other-hand, i know its married to my Apple ID and probably syncing all my photos, and receiving texts, if they somehow find a way to get into it. But i would be notified it it ever came back online.

If i erase, would it stop any notifications if it ever did come back online ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[KrisLord]

Unless there’s genuine sensitive data on it, I’d leave it in lost mode, particularly as it’s an LTE model.

If someone switches it on, it’ll report back a location and they’re unlikely to be able to guess your passcode, it’ll prevent attempts after a bit anyway.

Erasing it would only take effect when it is switched back on as it can’t be achieved without some sort of signal from Apple. So that short while when recovering it becomes possible is removed.

If you do wipe it, then your device remains locked to your account and needs your Apple ID password to unlock.

 

[thedoc46]

What would be a massive help is knowing the last location before it went offline. Is there anyway that i've perhaps missed a way to get that ?

Would be a great feature to have.

I have the Send Last Location on my iPhone.. So i'd of thought i'd either of done it on my iPad or the setting is across all iOS devices, being we're on the same Apple ID

 

[KrisLord]

What would be a massive help is knowing the last location before it went offline. Is there anyway that i've perhaps missed a way to get that ?

Would be a great feature to have.

I have the Send Last Location on my iPhone.. So i'd of thought i'd either of done it on my iPad or the setting is across all iOS devices, being we're on the same Apple ID

It’s on a per device basis so I’m guessing it wasn’t active. I’m not sure why apple don’t enable it by default.

 

[thedoc46]

It’s on a per device basis so I’m guessing it wasn’t active. I’m not sure why apple don’t enable it by default.

I think it was, but it only shows the last location for a 24hr time period. Which is unfortunate.