How To Find Your Missing Android Smartphone

If you lose your Android phone, tablet, or even your Android Wear smartwatch, there is a possibility of finding it, locking it, or erasing it from your Google account.

Find My Device, Android’s version of Apple’s Find My iPhone, is switched on by default for Android devices linked with a Google Account.

To use Find My Device, your lost device must be:

• Turned on
• Signed in to a Google Account
• Connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi
• Visible on Google Play
• Location turned on
• Find My Device turned on

Lost Android Wear devices must also be running Android Wear 2.0 and up.

Remotely find, lock, or erase

When Find My Device connects with your device, you’ll be able to see its location, and the device gets a notification. 

1. Open android.com/find and sign in to your Google Account.
2. If you have more than one device, click the lost device at the top of the screen.
3. On the map, see about where the device is.
   • The location is approximate and may not be accurate.
   • If your device can’t be found, Find My Device will show its last known location, if available.
4. Pick what you want to do. If needed, first click Enable lock & erase.
   • Play sound
     Rings your device at full volume for 5 minutes, even if it’s set to silent or vibrate.
   • Lock
     Locks your device with your PIN, pattern, or password. If you didn’t have a lock, you can set one. You can add a recovery message or phone number to the lock screen.
   • Erase
     Permanently deletes all data on your device. (It may not delete SD cards.) After you erase, Find My Device won’t work on the device.
     Important: If you find your device after erasing, you’ll likely need your Google Account password to use it again.

If you’re using the Find My Device app on a friend or family member’s device to track down your lost device, here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. On another Android phone or tablet, open the Find My Device app .
2. Sign in.
   • If your own device is lost, tap Continue as [enter your name].
   • If you’re helping a friend, tap Sign in as guest and let your friend sign in.
3. Follow the same steps as when using a browser to track down your device.

 

If you’re trying yo locate your missing iPhone, here’s how to do it.