Forget the classic panic of lost keys or a missing mobile phone. New research has uncovered the surprising number one item that Brits are most likely to misplace in their daily lives, with the average person losing track of at least three physical objects every single month.
The Hunt for Lost Items Dominates Daily Life
The survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Samsung, paints a picture of a nation regularly thrown into minor chaos by disappearance acts. A significant 27% of people spend between 20 minutes and a full hour searching for lost belongings. While house keys (19%) and mobile phones feature on the list, they are beaten by more mundane yet frustrating items.
Topping the chart of commonly misplaced possessions is the humble TV remote, cited by 24% of respondents. It is closely followed by glasses or sunglasses, and in third place, crucially important receipts and vouchers. In fact, 52% of those surveyed admitted to arriving at a shop checkout or returns desk without the necessary proof of purchase.
The list of frequent offenders continues with earbuds or headphones (15%), paperwork, car keys, chargers, and bank cards. Annika Bizon, spokesperson for Samsung UK & Ireland, commented on the impact: "Losing things isn't just inconvenient, it can really disrupt your day. Whether it's a receipt or a file, those small moments of frustration add up."
The Digital Clutter Crisis
The problem extends far beyond the physical world into our digital lives, where the hunt can be even more infuriating. The study found that 83% of people now struggle to locate documents or files on their devices. A third devote a staggering one to six hours every month to this digital scavenger hunt.
This digital disorganisation is compounded by the sheer volume of data we store. People typically have over 3,000 documents, photos, or videos on their gadgets. More than a third waste time endlessly scrolling through camera rolls, while 31% can't remember which folder or chat contains what they need. Alarmingly, 35% said items are often accidentally saved in the wrong place, and nearly one in five (19%) state they can 'never' find the document they need to share.
30% have misplaced vital passwords, and others have lost emails or photos permanently. A third confessed they find it harder to organise items on a digital device than in real life.
A Tech Solution for Forgetful Minds
The research was launched alongside Samsung's new Galaxy Book6 series at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The device is engineered to tackle this modern clutter crisis by helping users find files using natural language, rather than requiring precise file names or folder locations.
Annika Bizon explained the thinking behind the technology: "Searching for something you can't find on a device can be even more infuriating than losing your house keys... Now you can ask for what you're looking for in a natural, human way... It's designed around how people remember, not how computers store information."
The study also highlighted factors that worsen our forgetfulness. 52% said disruptions to their daily routine make them more absent-minded, and 34% confessed to losing more belongings as they've aged. Staying on top of both physical and digital clutter is, as Bizon notes, "becoming an essential skill for modern life."
TOP ITEMS BRITS COMMONLY MISPLACE:
- TV remote
- Glasses/sunglasses
- Receipts/vouchers
- House keys
- Mobile phone
- Earbuds/headphones
- Paperwork
- Car keys
- Chargers
- Bank cards
