How to find lost Android phone

If you accidentally misplace your smartphone somewhere, what will you do? With an iPhone or iPad, we can immediately use the Find My iPhone feature available on the device, introduced by the Network Administrator in the article Your iPhone or iPad is lost. Here's how to find them again!.

And if it's an Android device, what application will you use? In most cases, it's easy to track your lost Android phone. You can even lock it so anyone else can't access your stored data, and in the worst case, factory reset it remotely. Read on to learn how to find your lost Android phone.

How to track lost or stolen phone using PC

To track your lost phone, use Google's Find My Device service from the web on your PC or laptop.

1. Open the Find My Device website in your PC browser. Sign in with the Google account associated with your lost or stolen phone.
2. Select the device you want to track from the top of the left bar. By default, the service displays your most recently used device location.
3. Find My Device will show the current status of your stolen or lost device: battery life and when it was last seen online. The map will also automatically refresh to show the device's last known location.
4. You can click Play Sound to make the device ring, making it easy to find its location. This is perfect if you just can't see your phone.
5. If you cannot reach your lost Android phone, click on the Secure Device option. This will lock your phone and sign you out of your Google account, preventing thieves from accessing data stored on it. You can continue to track your phone's location after locking it and even display notifications on the lock screen.
6. If the chances of retrieving your lost Android phone are slim or there is sensitive data that cannot get into unknown hands, click Erase device instead. You will have to enter your Google account password to confirm this step. But your device will only be erased when connected to the Internet.

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In addition to your phone, you can use Find My Device to track Wear OS watches and Android tablets. Google's Pixel Buds and select third-party headphones also support the Find My Device network.

How to find a lost Android phone using another Android device

All Android phones and tablets come with Google's Find My Device feature. This feature allows you to track your phone's location or play a sound, making it easier to locate it when your phone is lost or stolen.

You don't need to do anything to set up Find My Device on Android. It is set up automatically when you first sign in with your Google account on your phone.

 Note: For Find My Device tracking to work, your lost Android phone must be connected to WiFi or a cellular network. You can only view the last known location of your phone without Internet access.

1. Open the Google Find My Device app on another Android phone. If it's your device, sign in with your Google account. If not, click Sign in as guest and select the phone you want to monitor.
2. Find My Device will attempt to track your lost Android phone. If the device is inaccessible, it will display the last known location of the phone. You can view your phone's IMEI number or access the factory reset option by tapping the gear icon next to your phone's name.
3. If you misplace your phone, tap Play sound to make the phone ring and help you locate it. Your device will ring for 5 minutes even when in silent mode.
4. Tap Secure device if you want to lock your device, sign out of your Google account, and display a notification on the lock screen.

How to find lost Android phone Picture 2

If you haven't enabled location access on your lost phone, Find My Device won't be able to provide an accurate location.

While you can find your lost iPhone even when it's offline, Google's Find My Device service can only show your device's location when it's connected to the Internet. However, there are other ways to locate a lost Android phone that is turned off.

Can you find your lost Android phone using its phone number?

Sadly, the answer is no. There is no online tool that allows you to track a lost phone by phone number. Only law enforcement agencies have this capability, as otherwise it would pose a privacy risk. So, even if you lose your phone with a SIM card inside, you cannot track the device's location.

 Likewise, you cannot use your phone's IMEI number to track it yourself. However, you can try contacting your network operator or law enforcement as they have the necessary tools to do it for you.

While Find My Device makes tracking your lost or misplaced Android phone easy, the feature requires a cellular or WiFi connection to work. Plus, thieves can remove the SIM card and make tracking more difficult. However, phones with eSIM prevent this and allow you to keep track of your device for longer.

Wishing you success!

David Pac

Update 13 March 2024