How to find a lost phone

We have all experienced the existential panic of losing, at least temporarily, our smartphone. The feeling of dread goes far beyond losing a wallet or house keys. In addition to the monetary value of your smartphone, it also includes critical and private information about you and your family in one place. The idea of ​​a stranger accessing this personal information is chilling.

There are many ways to find your lost iPhone or Android device because your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet already has the necessary software to search for it. There are also a variety of third-party applications that you can install track your smartphone.

Find lost smartphones

If you lose track of your iOS or Android smartphone, both Apple and Google have built-in phone recovery technology as part of the native software package that works through your device account: Google for your Android and iCloud account. for your iPhone. Both allow you to remotely lock and wipe your phone, make it ring, and set special messages to alert whoever finds it. These features work great as long as your phone’s battery lasts.

Be careful when communicating with anyone who has found your smartphone. Avoid revealing personal information, such as your home address, until you know you are dealing with someone you can trust. Stick with submitting phone numbers or email addresses to communicate how a searcher can return your phone. Here’s our guide on how to find a lost phone or similar device for each operating system. The following example uses Android 10.

How to find a lost Android phone

The easiest way to locate a lost Android phone is to use the Find my device function, which is integrated into your Android smartphone through Google Play Services; can also be used in a browser or Discharged from Google Play Store. Most devices with Android 2.3 or later can use this function.

Always enable Find My Device on your Android smartphone. Using the feature is as easy as searching “Where is my phone?” on Google, which will ask the service to find your phone. We have covered Find My Device and his ability to call you, set a new password and make your phone ring from afar, along with a variety of other notification features. While you can set up Find My Device in advance, the service should be available if you lose or misplace your phone using Wi-Fi or GPS to help you locate your device.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Google (or Google services)> Security and make sure Locate this device remotely is on in the Find my device section. You may be asked to log in.

Step 2: When you open the app or search your desktop browser, you will see all your devices at the top, so just select the appropriate tab to find the device you are looking for.

Find My Device Settings on Android

Setting up Find My Device is easy. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: The easiest way to do this is to go to Settings and type “find my device” in the search box. When the setting appears, tap it.

Step 2: Activate Find my device if it is off, it should never be off. You can then touch Open the app or Find my device on the web. These utilities will show you where your phone is on a map.

If you can’t get your smartphone back, you can always erase it to prevent confidential information from getting into the wrong hands. Your device will need an internet connection and enough power to communicate with you. In Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google introduced Factory Reset Protection (FRP). It is designed to prevent thieves from stealing your phone, cleaning it, and then using or selling it. If you factory reset an FRP-enabled phone and someone tries to set it up as a new phone, they will be prompted to enter the username and password of the last Google account registered on the device. If they can’t, the phone will remain locked with your data protected.

Android also works with various third-party applications designed to find your smartphone. For instance, Anti-theft dam It has remote access and control, allowing you to gather more information about the whereabouts of your phone. It provides more granular control over how you or the police can track your device: GPS coordinates, MAC address, camera photos to help catch the thief, and other more detailed notifications that Find My Device does not offer.

Another option for some Samsung smartphones is the Find my phone Service. You can use it to locate, lock or erase a lost phone. You need a Samsung account and the Remote controls options enabled on your phone. To check and see if Find My Mobile is available for your smartphone, please do the following.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Biometrics and security.

Step 2: If you see Find my mobile in the menu, you can use the service.

Step 3: Enable remote control options through Settings > Biometrics and security > Find my phone > Remote controls.

How to find a lost iPhone

Apple has a proprietary application called Find My iPhone that is dedicated to helping you find your lost or misplaced iPhone. The app comes installed on all iOS devices and can display your lost device on a map to help you easily locate and manage it. The only requirement to use this method is that you use another iOS phone, tablet, or computer that also has the Find my iphone app.

Step 1: Tap Settings > Your Apple ID (name)> find me. This takes you to the Find me sheet, where you then tap Find my iphone to turn it on if it is off. It should never be off.

Step 2: With Find My iPhone turned on, also tap the Find my network and Send last location switches. Those help you identify where you last left your phone in case internet services are currently turned off.

Step 3: With all those controls ready to go, go back to Settings> Apple ID and scroll down to see all your devices in a list. Tap on the missing device and it will take you to a Device Information sheet that allows you to search for it directly.

Step 4: Tap find me (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch), and then tap Show in Find My iPhone to bring up a map showing your exact location and directions on how to get there.

The service also gives you the option to play a sound on your device, mark the device as lost, and send a message to your phone in lost mode. You also have the option to erase the device in case it falls into the wrong hands. Find my iPhone can also locate your Mac, iPod, iPad, or Apple Watch. It is an incredibly effective tool for tracking almost any iOS device.

Your iPhone maintains a high level of security in the event of theft by using a Activation lock. Enabled by default, Activation Lock requires you to tap on your Apple ID and password before you can disable Find My iPhone, wipe your device, or reactivate it.

How to find your not-so-smart cell phone

With plain cell phones, there aren’t as many programmatic or app-based options available to help you find a lost phone. However, there is always a basic protocol to follow when you lose your phone. Try to do the following.

Step 1: Call your cell phone. Listen for the ringing or vibration and try to locate your phone through tried and true human detection. If your phone is truly lost and in the hands of someone else, they will likely answer, if they intend to return the phone.

Step 2: Go back on your steps. Do a full visual search. If you couldn’t hear a ringing or vibration when you called, don’t immediately assume your phone is located too far away; the battery could just be dead.

Step 3: Send a text message to your phone. If you think someone has stolen or possibly found your phone, text your phone with your contact information and a reward offer if you wish. There are many online services that allow you to send free text messages, such as txtDrop.com. Do not share any personal information.

Step 4: Notify your service provider. If you have given up hope of finding it, call your wireless service provider and let them know that your phone is lost. Ask if they offer a GPS tracking service. If they don’t, ask them to suspend service to your phone to avoid fraudulent charges. Carriers have different policies on this, but it’s always worth a try, even for a smartphone. This FCC Page has a useful list of numbers.

Step 5: Register your lost phone. If you know the IMEI number of your phone or write it down somewhere, record it with Immobilize.

Step 6: Prepare for the next time you lose your phone. Maybe you are one of those people who always loses your phone. You may want to consider signing up for a tracking service like AccuTracking.

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