It can be a bit of extra front-end work to register some apps, but it will be more work trying to locate a missing phone if no safety nets are in place at all.
If you have any worries about your phone being lost or stolen, it's best to set up and test your preferred tracking system as soon as you buy it and contact the police. There's also IMEI24, which has a global database.Īs always, exercise caution when retrieving a lost or stolen phone. and Device Check in Canada that let you key in an IMEI and see if that particular device has been reported as lost or stolen. There are services like Stolen Phone Checker in the U.S. You'll also need to do the same with your carrier or service provider, and it will be added to a blacklist. You should contact the police as soon as possible once your phone goes missing, and furnish its IMEI number. Blocking the IMEI number at least makes sure that no one else will be able to register the phone on cell networks. This identifier is found by dialing from your phone's dialer, so you'll need to know the IMEI number before your phone goes missing. Then you'll have to use the nuclear option of blocking it with its IMEI number. If your phone is stolen or found and it's then factory reset, you will not be able to rely on any apps or services to find it a factory reset will wipe out any of the original data, accounts, or passwords that are needed to remotely find your Android phone. If all else fails, block your phone's IMEI With Google Home's multi-user support, everyone in your home can use Google Home to find their phones if they're lost as long as they've linked their Google Accounts using Voice Match. You will also need to have Find My Device turned on, which you should absolutely activate for any Android phone you're using. Note that for this to work, your Android phone must be logged into the same Google account as your smart speaker, you must have linked your Google account and voice via the Home app, and your phone must be turned on and connected to the internet either via mobile data or Wi-Fi. If you own a Google Assistant speaker, just say to it, "OK Google find my phone," to have your Assistant turn the ringer on even if it was on silent before. This can be frustrating if it's time to leave for work or some other appointment and you're frantically scrambling around your home looking for it. It's embarrassingly easy to lose your phone by putting it down somewhere in your house and forgetting where you left it. Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central)
#Find my device android last location how to
How to locate your phone in your house using a smart speaker If your phone is off when the Erase Device command comes through, the data will be erased once the phone turns back on. Clicking Erase Device permanently removes all data from the phone including the Find My Device info associated with your Google account, which means you'll no longer be able to track your phone's location. I highly recommend using the Play Sound feature after securing your device and inputting a message so that if anyone else is alerted to the phone's presence they'll see your note and can call.Įrase Device: This is kind of like the nuclear option and should only be used if there is really sensitive data on the missing Android phone. That way someone can read your message and call the number you list without really accessing your device. You can also put in a phone number for someone to reach you by, whether that be the hotel you're staying at, a friend's number, or a work phone. Secure Device: Clicking on this section not only locks your phone so others can't use it, but also allows you to type a short message that will appear on your phone's screen should anyone turn it on. Alternatively, this sound might also alert someone else in the area of your lost phone's location and could prompt them to turn it into a lost and found. That way, if you draw close to the lost phone's location, you'll be able to hear exactly where it is even if it's under a bush that you sat next to on a hike. Play Sound: Clicking on this makes your phone ring non-stop for 5 minutes, even if it was on silent or vibrate when you last had it. Sometimes, finding the phone's location isn't enough, which is why Find My Device offers three additional features to help you find the phone and keep your info safe.