// DO THESE NOW
Lost or stolen laptop? Do these things now
Your laptop holds your photos, email, banking and work — so losing it, or having it stolen, feels awful. Work calmly through these steps to protect what matters. And don’t lose hope: sometimes, as one of our customers found, you even get it back.
- ● First 15 minutes
- ● Lock & report
- ● A real recovery story
// THE FIRST 15 MINUTES
Act calmly, in this order
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01
Lock it remotely (if you can)
From another device, sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices. If you had Find my device switched on, you can see its last location and Lock it — that signs everyone out and shows a message. A work laptop? Tell your IT team or employer straight away — they can often lock or wipe it for you.
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02
Change your important passwords
From another device, change your passwords — email first (it’s the key to everything else), then banking, then anything the laptop was signed into. Sign out of those sessions while you’re there.
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03
Report it to the police
Report the theft to the police (101 or online) and get a crime reference number for your insurance. Give them anything useful — the make, model and serial number, and any tracking details. Report to Action Fraud too if any accounts or money are misused.
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04
Protect your accounts
Turn on two-factor authentication where you can, so a stolen password isn’t enough on its own — see our 2FA guide. If you think someone has got into an account, follow I think I’ve been hacked.
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05
Check your backup — and breathe
If your files were backed up to the cloud, you haven’t lost them — they’ll be waiting on your next computer. Not sure? We can help you check. See backup & recovery.
It’s not always the end of the story
Back in 2011, one of our own customers had their laptop stolen from their car. Because we’d set it up with the same kind of remote-support software we still use today, we could see it was being used — and the internet address it was connecting from. We passed the details to Dorset Police, who located the address and recovered the laptop. The Bournemouth Echo ran the story — you can read more about us and that day. Recovery is never guaranteed, but it does happen, so report it and hand the police anything useful.
Windows: how to find or lock it
- Find my device only works if you switched it on beforehand, signed in with a Microsoft account, and the laptop is turned on and online. If so, sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices to see its last location and lock it.
- No simple remote-wipe. Unlike phones, a personal Windows laptop can’t be erased remotely — which is exactly why a strong login password and encryption matter (below).
- Work laptops managed by an IT team can usually be located, locked or wiped remotely — so tell them immediately.
Will someone be able to read my files?
If your laptop had a strong login password and device encryption (BitLocker) switched on, your files are well protected even in the wrong hands. If it booted straight to your desktop with no password, assume someone could see your files — so change your passwords quickly and sign out of your accounts. Not sure whether encryption was on? Ask us and we’ll help you check.
Set this up before it ever happens
- Turn on Find my device (Settings → Privacy & security → Find my device).
- Set a strong password or PIN, and have the screen lock automatically when you step away.
- Turn on device encryption / BitLocker so your data is unreadable if the laptop is stolen.
- Back up to the cloud, so a lost laptop never means lost files — see backup & recovery.
- Write down the make, model and serial number and keep them somewhere safe.
- Out and about, never leave a laptop on show in a car — most are taken from vehicles and homes.
Want a hand setting any of this up, or replacing a stolen machine? We can recover your data from your backup and set up a tested refurbished Dell from £510, ready to go.
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Can the police find my stolen laptop?
Sometimes. Report it for a crime reference number and give them anything useful — the serial number, or any tracking information. We’ve seen it work: in 2011 we helped Dorset Police trace and recover a customer’s stolen laptop. But recovery is never guaranteed, so protect your accounts and data straight away.
Can I wipe my laptop remotely like a phone?
Personal Windows laptops don’t have the simple remote-erase that phones do. You can lock it with Find my device (if it was switched on) and sign out of your accounts. Work laptops managed by an IT team can usually be wiped remotely.
Will whoever took it get into my accounts?
Not if you act quickly. Change your email and banking passwords from another device, turn on two-factor authentication, and sign out of your accounts. Device encryption and a strong password make it much harder for them.
Can you help me set up a replacement?
Yes — we’ll recover your files from your backup, set everything up securely, and can supply a tested refurbished Dell from £510. Calm, plain-English help from a real local firm.
Lost a laptop, or want to be ready?
We’ll help you secure your accounts, recover your files from backup and set up a replacement — calmly and in plain English.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM