Losing a smartphone is no longer just about the cost of replacing the device. Modern phones contain personal photographs, private conversations, email accounts, saved documents, social media profiles and access to financial services. If a phone falls into the wrong hands, the information stored inside it could potentially be more valuable than the device itself.

The best time to protect a smartphone is before it gets lost or stolen.

A few security settings can make it significantly harder for an unauthorized person to access your information and can also help you locate, lock or erase a missing device remotely.

Here are nine important precautions smartphone users should consider setting up in advance.

1. Turn On Your Phone-Finding Feature

The first thing to check is whether your smartphone's device-finding service is enabled.

Android devices provide Google's device-finding capabilities, while iPhones offer Apple's Find My feature.

These services can help locate a missing device, make it play a sound, secure it remotely and, in supported circumstances, erase its data.

Make sure the relevant feature is enabled while the phone is still in your possession. Waiting until after the device disappears may be too late to configure all the required options.

2. Use a Strong Screen Lock

Never leave an important smartphone protected only by a simple swipe.

Set up a strong PIN, password or another secure screen-lock method. Avoid obvious combinations such as 1234, 0000, your birth year or easily guessed patterns.

A strong screen lock creates the first major barrier between a thief and your private information.

Biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition can also provide convenient protection when supported by the device.

3. Enable Theft and Remote-Lock Protections

Newer smartphones may provide additional theft-protection features that go beyond the traditional lock screen.

Depending on the device and operating-system version, these can include options designed to lock the phone if suspicious theft-like movement is detected or to let the owner remotely secure the device.

Check the Security, Privacy, Google, or device-protection section of your phone's settings to see which options are available.

Feature names and availability can differ between smartphone brands and software versions.

4. Hide Sensitive Information From the Lock Screen

Even a locked phone can reveal personal information through notifications.

OTP messages, banking alerts, private WhatsApp messages and email previews may appear directly on the lock screen if notification previews are enabled.

Review your notification privacy settings and consider hiding sensitive content while the device is locked.

This can reduce the amount of useful information visible to someone who finds or steals your phone without requiring them to unlock it.

5. Protect Banking and Payment Apps Separately

If your smartphone contains banking, UPI, wallet or investment applications, use every additional security feature those apps provide.

This could include an app PIN, biometric authentication or other verification measures.

Do not store banking passwords or UPI PINs in ordinary notes, screenshots or easily accessible text files.

Also remember that a UPI PIN is meant to authorize payments. You should never disclose it to someone claiming they need it to send money to you.

6. Back Up Important Data Regularly

A stolen phone can sometimes be replaced, but irreplaceable photographs, videos, contacts and documents may be much harder to recover.

Regular backups can significantly reduce this risk.

Depending on your device and preferences, important information can be backed up to your Google or Apple account or another trusted service.

Check that backups are actually running rather than simply assuming they are enabled.

A recent backup becomes especially valuable if you eventually need to remotely erase a missing phone.

7. Strengthen Your Google or Apple Account

Your Google account on Android or Apple Account on an iPhone can play an important role in recovering and securing a lost device.

Use a strong and unique password for the account and enable additional account-security protections such as two-step verification where available.

Also ensure your recovery information is current.

If your phone disappears and you simultaneously discover that you cannot sign in to the account required for device recovery, securing the handset can become much more difficult.

8. Protect Your SIM and Mobile Number

Your mobile number is connected to many important services, including banking alerts and account-verification systems.

Consider enabling a SIM PIN if appropriate for your device and usage. More importantly, know how to contact your telecom operator quickly if the phone is stolen.

If necessary, ask the operator to block or suspend the SIM to reduce the risk of misuse.

After a theft, also be alert to suspicious calls or messages pretending to help you recover the device. Criminals may attempt phishing attacks to obtain passwords or verification codes.

Never share OTPs, account passwords or security codes with someone simply because they claim to have found your phone.

9. Keep Your Phone and Apps Updated

Security updates matter.

Smartphone manufacturers, operating-system developers and app companies regularly release updates that address vulnerabilities and improve security protections.

Install important Android or iOS security updates when they become available, and keep sensitive applications such as banking apps, browsers and messaging services current.

An outdated device can miss protections that are available on newer software.

What Should You Do Immediately If Your Phone Is Stolen?

If your device does disappear, act quickly.

Use the appropriate device-finding service from another trusted device to check its status and secure it remotely where possible. Contact your telecom provider if the SIM needs to be blocked.

If banking or payment information may be at risk, contact the relevant financial institutions through their official channels.

For a stolen device, consider reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities and keeping important device information, such as the IMEI, available for reference.

In India, users can also check the government's Sanchar Saathi services for options related to reporting and blocking lost or stolen mobile handsets.

Don't Wait Until the Phone Goes Missing

Most people think about smartphone security only after something goes wrong. By that point, some protective options may be much harder to configure.

Spend a few minutes today reviewing your device-finding service, screen lock, remote security features, notification privacy, banking-app protection, backups, account security, SIM protection and software updates.

No setting can guarantee that a stolen phone will be recovered or that every possible attack will fail. But preparing these protections in advance can make unauthorized access considerably more difficult and give you more options to protect your photos, accounts, personal information and financial data if your smartphone is ever lost or stolen.