The series was originally developed at ABC, which gave it a pilot commitment in August 2019, before it moved to NBC, which ordered a pilot in January 2022 with Rock My Soul Productions.

Found was originally scheduled to premiere as a midseason replacement on February 19, 2023, but was delayed to fall 2023 by then NBCUniversal chairperson Susan Rosner Rovner.

DeMane Davis was announced in April 2022 to direct the pilot episode.

The first season was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, with production beginning in October 2022 and wrapping in March 2023, while the second season began filming in early March 2024.

Before its official NBC debut, the series was first screened on June 17, 2023 at the American Black Film Festival, and its pilot had a world premiere on September 23, 2023 at the Boston Film Festival.

Composer Sherri Chung was announced on September 13, 2023 to score the show's music.

Within six days of its release, Found became NBC's most successful series launch on the Peacock streaming platform, with its premiere eventually watched by over 20 million viewers by November 2023.

The pilot episode also had a separate premiere on USA Network on October 7, 2023, days after its NBC debut.