Long gone are the days when losing a phone somewhere meant never getting it back. But the times have changed and we have come a long way. Here is a guide on finding a lost Android phone if you ever find yourself in this situation.
The best part is that to make your Android mobile phone traceable there is no need of acquiring or installing additional apps. You can do all of that using the default apps and processes that come preinstalled on your system.
Finding Lost Android Phone
Once people had to rely on their luck after losing their phone. But thanks to improvements in the Android Operating System there is now an option that was once only available on Apple iPhone. Now Android devices including mobile phones and tablets have the Find My Device preinstalled from Google.
This lets the users track the device’s location or start playing a sound, this means you can track the machine when you misplace it or it gets stolen. The best part is that the users do not need to go the extra mile in order to use this method.
There is no long and tortuous setup issue with the setup of Find My Device. It comes automatically installed and functional from the moment you create an account on the device. The only hiccup is that it only works when the system is connected online. For worst-case scenarios, you must use these privacy tips for Android.
Nevertheless, when your Android phone is misplaced, here is what you need to do immediately:
Simply open the Find My Device option on any other Android phone. Now if you are using your own account on this device, it is time to log in. But if you do not have an additional device it is time to borrow one from your family, friends, or colleague.
Now, you will have to sing-in as a guest in the app. Now use the account that is linked to the device which you want to track currently. Now if you have multiple devices on one account, you must select the exact one.
The app will start looking for your mobile phone immediately. If the device cannot be reached, you will at least get the last approximate location right on the screen.
Here you can press the ‘i’ symbol next to your device name and get the IMEI number with the relevant information.
Now, if you have misplaced your device, you can use the Play Sound option. This will make your device ring. Now follow the sound and locate your machine. Use of this option will activate the device for up to five minutes even if the silent mode is active currently.
The other option is to secure your device. With this option, you can sign out of your Google account, lock the device and display a message right on the lock screen. Now when you are using this option never disable the location option, otherwise, it will never be located.
Finding Lost Android Phone Using PC
Do you know finding your stolen device is also possible using a computer? For this you will have to follow the steps given below:
For this Go to the Find My Device Website on your computer. Now log in to your Google Account that is linked to the device just like explained in the previous section.
Now select the device that is associated with this ID and you want to track it from the tab at the top. Now you can see the location of your most recently used device. Here you can locate the location as well as play a sound to locate it.
If you cannot locate it currently now you can simply secure it just like the method given above. This will lock it down and prevent the unintended user from accessing the device or data on it.
In case the device that has gone missing has data that could be sensitive in nature then the best way is to use the ‘Erase Device’ option to remove all the data. For this enter the Google Account password that will execute this step.
Next time as soon as the device gets connected to the internet, all the data will be wiped out immediately.
Conclusion
Finding the lost Android phone has gotten much easier. But you must know how it works. This is why we have created this guide for you so that you can use it in case of need. Tell us if there is anything missing or if you have a question.