What to do if your laptop is stolen

A few simple habits may help protect your laptop from theft with a few simple habits: keep it in secure places and out of sight, use a lock or tracking feature, and guard your data with strong passwords and regular backups. If your laptop is stolen, your home, renters, condo, or electronic device insurance may help cover the cost to replace it, depending on where the theft happened and the type of policy you have.

4 to readUpdated October 22, 2026

Explore Progressive's editorial standards for Answers articles to find out why you can trust the insurance information you find here.

Key takeaways

A laptop stolen from your car typically isn't covered by auto insurance, though your renters, condo, or homeowners policy may help
Reporting the theft quickly and keeping proof of ownership can make filing a claim easier

What are some ways to protect your laptop from being stolen?

Laptop theft can be a crime of opportunity, so making your device harder to grab and easier to track may help deter theft. Try these practical steps:

Store it securely: Keep your laptop in a locked drawer, safe, or cabinet when you're not using it, especially in shared spaces like offices or dorms.
Keep it out of sight in your car: Avoid leaving your laptop in a parked vehicle. If you have to leave it in your car, lock it in the trunk before arriving at your destination.
Use a physical lock: A cable lock can tether your laptop to a desk or another fixed object in public or semi-public settings.
Stay aware in public: Keep your laptop within reach in cafes, airports, and libraries, and avoid leaving it unattended.
Track the device: Turn on your operating system's built-in "Find My Device" feature so you can try to locate the laptop if it's lost or stolen.

How can you protect the data on your laptop?

Your laptop may hold personal and financial information you want to keep secure. Laptop insurance may help replace a stolen device, but it can't bring back lost data, so these safeguards matter regardless of your coverage.

Start by controlling who can get in: Use a unique password that's difficult to guess and isn't used across accounts. Adding multi-factor authentication to your important accounts can make it harder for someone to access them with a stolen password alone.
Next, protect the data itself: Turn on your operating system's built-in full-disk encryption to make your files harder to access if your laptop is stolen. Keep your operating system and apps updated to close any security gaps. Backing up your files regularly helps make sure a stolen laptop doesn't take your work with it.

Notify your employer right away about a stolen company laptop
The sooner you act, the better. Any Personally Identifiable Information (PPI) and other sensitive, proprietary information stored on it could put you (and others, such as company customers) at risk of identity theft.

Your IT department should have procedures that can help lock down information on the computer. Also, your company's security department may ask about where and when the theft happened, whether it was on company premises or was stolen from your home, car, or another location.
File a police report
File a report for a stolen personal laptop. If you're attending school, start with campus security and follow their instructions.
Use your cell phone or other device to log out of accounts
Logging out of your accounts remotely can help protect your personal information. Log into your browser accounts to delete any saved passwords, disable autofill, and un-sync your browsers across devices. Before logging out, check for any location data available for your logged-in devices. Your laptop may be one of those devices, and you can use that information to track its location.
Change your passwords right away
Use another device or cell phone to change your most critical passwords (for example, to your banking/financial accounts) or your password manager.

What are some options for tracking your laptop?

Check your account with the manufacturer

If you've registered your laptop with the manufacturer, such as Apple or Microsoft, log into your account using another device and see if you can track it. If the laptop is connected to the internet, you may be able to locate it based on its IP address and internet connection.

Check with cloud service providers

If you haven't registered your device with the manufacturer, try logging into cloud service providers such as Gmail or Dropbox. Both Apple and Microsoft have "find my device" features. Some of these services offer similar features, allowing you to see the location of all your logged-in devices. If your laptop isn't connected to the internet, there are ways to track and protect it.

Important note: If you locate your laptop after it was stolen, give the information to the authorities. Don't try to retrieve your laptop yourself.

Should you file an insurance claim?

If you have a homeowner's policy, it may cover theft so you should file a claim. Alternatively, if you have a laptop insurance policy, you can file a claim with your provider. If not, it may be beneficial to have a laptop insurance policy, which would cover theft if it happens again.

Get a laptop insurance quote online or call 1-844-571-6742 to protect your laptop with computer insurance.

Ways to help protect your laptop and data

Electronics often come with a standard warranty that covers manufacturer defects, but warranties don't cover theft or accidental damage. You can get electronic device insurance to insure laptops, so if someone steals your device, you'll be covered and won't have to pay completely out of pocket for a new one.

It's a good idea to register your laptop with its manufacturer to help track it if it's lost or stolen. Even if you choose not to register, consider backing up your laptop regularly on an external drive or the cloud, so you don't lose any data if the device is damaged, lost, or stolen. Also store your device in a safe, secure place and take precautions should you take it with you on the road. Keep it out of sight if you leave it in your car.

Other steps to take:

Enable 2-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This adds more protection when logging into sensitive accounts.
Delete saved payment information: If you've saved your credit card information on e-commerce sites like Amazon or other retailers, consider removing it.
Clear your browsing data regularly: Avoid giving potential thieves information about your browsing history.