A lost or stolen work laptop isn’t just a missing piece of hardware; it’s a race against the clock. A device that’s still connected to the internet can usually be located, locked, or wiped remotely, but the moment it’s powered off or disconnected for good, those options disappear with it. What happens in the first few minutes, who gets called, whether it gets locked down, and whether anything it had access to gets changed, matters far more than anything that happens afterward. This guide covers the first steps for a lost or stolen work laptop: reporting it immediately, locking or wiping it remotely if your business has that set up, changing the passwords for whatever it could reach, and documenting the whole thing for insurance and compliance.
A lost or stolen work laptop, step by step
!A work laptop just went missing
What happens in the next few minutes matters more than almost anything else that happens after.
1Report it immediately
Call your I.T. provider or manager right away, even if you think it’ll turn up.
2Lock or wipe it remotely
Business laptops managed with tools like Microsoft Intune can be located, locked, or wiped from anywhere.
3Change what it could reach
Reset passwords for anything that was logged in or saved on it, especially email and company accounts.
A few tips
- Encrypt company laptops ahead of time — BitLocker on Windows, FileVault on a Mac, turned on before it’s ever lost
- Know your device-management options — Tools like Microsoft Intune can locate, lock, or wipe a managed laptop remotely
- Document what happened — What was on it, when it went missing, and what you did; it matters for insurance and compliance
Recap: lost or stolen work laptop
- Report it immediately; every minute online is a minute you can still act
- Lock, locate, or wipe it remotely if your business has that set up
- Change passwords for anything it could reach, especially email
- Document what happened, for insurance and compliance
Printable quick guide
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if a work laptop is lost or stolen?
Report it immediately to your I.T. provider or manager, even if you think it’ll turn up on its own. A device that’s still online can often be located, locked, or wiped remotely, but every minute it stays powered on and connected is a minute that option is still available.
Can a lost work laptop be wiped remotely?
If it’s enrolled in a device-management tool like Microsoft Intune, yes. A remote wipe factory resets the device and removes its data, apps, and settings, and is commonly used specifically when a device is lost or stolen, but it only works while the device can still check in online.
What if the laptop’s drive wasn’t encrypted?
Assume anything stored on it could be read, and change the passwords for anything it was logged into or had saved, especially email, file storage, and any company accounts. This is also the biggest reason to turn on BitLocker or FileVault ahead of time, before a device ever goes missing.
Do I need to document a lost or stolen work laptop?
Yes. Write down what was on it, when it went missing, and the steps that were taken afterward; that record matters for insurance claims and for any compliance or client-notification requirements your business may have.
Related guides
- Find a Lost Laptop or Phone (Find My Device / Find My)
- BitLocker Lockouts: Check Your Status, Save Your Key
- Password Managers: Why You Need One and How to Start
Source: Wipe devices with Microsoft Intune (Microsoft Learn)