Losing or Breaking your Phone: A Proactive Guide to Staying Productive

Our smartphones are practically an extension of ourselves these days. I can’t be the only one who’s momentarily panicked because I thought I lost my phone, only to find it hiding under a sofa cushion or in an odd pocket in the backpack. But what happens when you actually lose your phone, or it stops working (as happened to me early this summer)? If you’re like me, your phone is the key to your entire digital world, especially in a hybrid work setup. It’s not just for calling and texting anymore—it's your gateway to emails, 2FA (two-factor authentication), chat notifications, and even your calendar. So, when your phone goes AWOL or decides to take a swim in your coffee, it can feel like your productivity has just been thrown out the window.

But don’t worry—I’ve been there, and I’m here to share some tips and tricks to keep your hybrid work life running smoothly even when your smartphone isn’t.

Don’t Panic! Assess the Situation

First things first, take a deep breath. It’s easy to spiral into a panic when you lose your phone, or find it’s no longer working properly, but freaking out won’t help you find it or get it fixed. Instead, try to assess the situation calmly.

If you’ve just misplaced your phone, there’s hope! Tools like “Find My iPhone” for iOS or “Find My Device” for Android can help you locate your phone, lock it, or even wipe it remotely if you suspect it’s been stolen. If your phone is broken, try to figure out how bad the damage is. Sometimes, a cracked screen looks worse than it is and can be replaced without losing any data. In fact, key apps might still be working OK. In my case, the WiFi had stopped working entirely, and the mobile data worked sporadically—I had to send it back to the manufacturer for repairs, which meant I was without my phone for around 2 weeks.

Lock Down Your Accounts ASAP

If you’re sure your phone is gone for good, or if it’s broken beyond immediate repair, the next step is to secure your online accounts. Most of us have our email, banking apps, social media, and work tools linked to our phones. Go to your online accounts and sign out of all devices remotely—especially if your phone has been stolen. For Google, you can do this from your account’s security settings, and for Apple, you can manage devices from your iCloud account.

Report the Loss to Your Carrier

If your phone is gone and not coming back, contact your network operator/carrier immediately. Reporting the phone as lost or stolen will allow them to suspend your service and prevent unauthorised use. Most operators can also help you with quickly getting a new SIM card, which you’ll need to get back up and running on a new device.

Have a Backup Phone or Device Ready

OK, so I know not everyone has a backup phone just lying around, but hear me out. In a world where our phones are lifelines, it’s seriously worth considering having a secondary phone or even a tablet as a backup. It doesn’t have to be the latest model—just something that can get you through a workday or two if needed. At the very least, keep an old smartphone handy. It might not be as fast as your current one, but it’ll do the job in a pinch.

If you don’t have one, then it’ll be time to place an order…

Backup Everything—And I Mean Everything

Now, let’s talk about backups. It’s one of those things we all know we should do, but often put off until it’s too late. If you haven’t already, start backing up your phone regularly. Use cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox to store your photos, contacts, and important documents. Don’t forget about app data—many apps offer cloud sync, but it might not be automatic, so double-check.

Another critical step is to backup your 2FA codes. If you use Google Authenticator or a similar app for 2FA, losing your phone can be an absolute nightmare, making you spend hours trying to get back in to your important accounts. The best way to avoid this is by using a 2FA app that allows cloud backup, like Microsoft Authenticator. That way, you can restore your codes on a new device if something happens to your phone. This is where having backup codes or an alternative 2FA method comes in handy.

Set Up a Recovery Plan

Here’s where we get proactive. Setting up a recovery plan now can save you a lot of headaches later. Make a list of all the critical apps and services you use on your phone and note down any necessary recovery steps. For instance, many banks and work tools offer alternative login methods like email verification or hardware tokens. Familiarise yourself with these options before you need them.

The key thing is to make sure you’ll be able to access critical accounts without requiring access to phone/SMS functionality—if you’ve lost your phone, and the only way you can get back into an account is by entering a code sent by SMS, you’re still going to be locked out.

It’s also a good idea to have a printed copy of important phone numbers and emergency contacts. I know it sounds old school, but when your phone is out of commission, you’ll be glad you have it.

Consider a Password Manager

If you’re not already using a password manager, now might be the time to start. A good password manager will store all your login details securely and can be accessed from any device. This means that even if you lose your phone, you can still access your accounts from another device. Plus, many password managers now offer 2FA integration, making it easier to recover your accounts.

Final Thoughts

Losing or breaking your smartphone is a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be a productivity killer—especially if you’re prepared. By backing up your data, securing your accounts, and having a recovery plan in place, you can minimise the disruption to your routine. And who knows? Maybe it’ll be a good excuse to unplug for a bit!