Be ready to find a lost Android device (2024)

You can set up Find My Device so you’re prepared if you lose your phone, tablet, Wear OS watch, headphones, or something that has a tracker tag attached.

If your device is already lost, learn how to find, secure, or erase it.

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Make sure your device can be found

Step 1: Check that you’re signed in to a Google Account

  1. On your device, open Settings Be ready to find a lost Android device (1) Google.
    • Your account name and email address should be here.
  2. Verify your email address.

Tip: If you have a shared tablet, only the tablet’s owner can change these settings.

Step 2: Check that Location is on

Important: When you turn on Location with certain settings, you may also make your device’s location available to other apps and services.

  1. On your device, open Settings.
  2. Tap Location.
    • If you can't find "Location," go to your device manufacturer's support site for help.
  3. Turn on Location.

Step 3: Check that Find My Device is on

  1. On your device, open Settings.
  2. Tap Google Be ready to find a lost Android device (2) All Services (if tabs exist) Be ready to find a lost Android device (3) Find My Device.
  3. Check that “Use Find My Device” is turned on.

Tip: In Android versions 5.0 and lower, you can find the "Find My Device" settings under the "Google Settings" app

Step 4: Find offline devices and devices without power

  1. On your device, open Settings.
  2. Tap Google Be ready to find a lost Android device (4) All Services (if tabs exist) Be ready to find a lost Android device (5) Find My Device.
  3. Tap Find your offline devices.

Find offline devices settings

By default, your device is set to the "With network in high-traffic areas only" setting so that it stores encrypted recent locations with Google and helps find both your and others’ offline devices as part of a crowdsourced network of Android devices. You can change this setting at any time:

  • Off: Your device’s encrypted recent locations won't be stored and your Android device won’t participate in the network. What happens when you turn off offline finding.
  • Without network: Your device won’t participate in the network. You can still locate your offline devices with their encrypted recent locations that were stored when they were online. Offline finding without the network.
  • With network in high-traffic areas only (default): Locate your offline devices with their encrypted recent locations or the network in areas like airports or busy footpaths. Offline finding in high-traffic areas.
  • With network in all areas: Locate your offline devices with their stored and encrypted recent locations or the network in high-traffic and low-traffic areas. Offline finding in all areas.

If the battery runs out or device is off

For supported devices, like the Pixel 8 series, if the device runs out of battery or is off, the Find My Device network can still locate the phone for several hours after it’s turned off.

  • Set the option to With network in high-traffic areas only or With network in all areas.
  • Make sure Bluetooth and Location are turned on when the phone shuts down.

Tip: Devices in the network use Bluetooth to scan for nearby items. If they detect your items, they securely send the locations where they detected them to Find My Device. Your Android devices do the same to help others find their offline items when they’re detected nearby. How Find My Device processes your data.

Instructions for Android 8.0 and below

For Android 8.0 and below,

  1. On your device, open Settings.
  2. Tap Google Be ready to find a lost Android device (6) All Services (if tabs exist) Be ready to find a lost Android device (7) Find My Device.
  3. Turn Store recent location on.
    • When “Store recent location” is on, your account stores your encrypted recent locations so you can find offline devices and accessories.

Step 5: Check if your device is listed on Google Play

Important: If you hide a device on Google Play, you won't find it in Find My Device.

  1. Open https://play.google.com/library/devices.
  2. At the top left, make sure that the box “Show In Menus” is checked.

Tip: If you recently removed your account from a device or lost it, you may still be able to find it in Find My Device for some time. How to hide devices on Google Play.

Step 6: Check that you can find your device

  1. Open android.com/find.
  2. Sign in to your Google Account.
    • If this device has more than one user profile, sign in with a Google Account that's on the main profile. Learn more about user profiles.
  3. If you have more than one device, at the top of the screen, select your device.

Tips:

  • If your device is offline and you have Find your offline devices turned on, then Find My Device can display the location of the device when it was last online based on its encrypted stored location.
  • For best results, find items through the network with the Find My Device mobile app.

Step 7: Install the Find My Device app

  1. To manage your devices and find them, install the Find My Device app Be ready to find a lost Android device (8).
  2. Tap Sign In.

Tip: If you have a tablet that people share, only the tablet’s owner can change these settings.

Step 8: Create a 2-Step Verification backup code

Important: You can locate your device on https://android.com/find. You can also use the Google Find My Device app in Guest Mode with your email and password.

If you lose your primary Android device and want to lock or erase it remotely, you must turn on 2-Step Verification. Since your primary Android device could be your method of 2-Step Verification such as a verification code, it’s important to have a backup code. If you don’t have backup codes or a physical security key, you may need to contact your mobile service provider to order a new SIM.

  1. Go to your Google Account.
  2. Tap Security.
  3. Under "How you sign in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification.
  4. Tap Backup codes.

Learn more about backup codes.

If you forget your password, lose your device, or can’t sign in for another reason, backups help you get back into your account. Learn more about 2-Step Verification and backups.

A physical security key is one of the strongest methods to protect your account. Keep your physical security key in a safe location. If your primary Android device is lost or stolen, you can use the physical key to sign in to https://android.com/find. Learn more about security key options.

Add headphones or other accessories

Add a new accessory

Use Fast Pair to connect your accessory with your device. Learn how to use Fast Pair.

  1. On your device, you get a prompt to add your headphones to Find My Device. Bluetooth tracker tags are automatically added to Find My Device after pairing is complete.
    • To add the accessory: Tap Add.
    • If you don’t want to add the accessory: Tap No thanks.
  2. If you miss the notification, follow the steps below to add a previously connected accessory.
  3. Find your device.

Tracker tags

You can use tracker tags to help keep track of and find lost items such as keys, luggage, bikes and more. You shouldn’t use tracker tags to track pets or locate stolen items. Acceptable users for tracker tags.

Add previously connected headphones

  1. On your device, open Settings.
  2. Tap Connected devices.
  3. Select the device.
  4. Tap Find when disconnected Be ready to find a lost Android device (9) Add.

Tip: You can remove accessories from Find My Device at any time. Remove accessories from Find My Device.

Related resources

  • Find, secure, or erase a lost device
  • Find My Device acceptable use policy
  • How Find My Device protects your data
  • Share and manage devices with Find My Device

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members

Get to know your Android phone

Learn how to use your Android device and get the most out of Google. Get step-by-step guides and instructional videos on how to set up your phone, customize your settings, and use apps.

Be ready to find a lost Android device (2024)

FAQs

Be ready to find a lost Android device? ›

If you lose an Android device or Wear OS watch, you can find, secure, or erase it remotely. You can also help a friend find, secure, or erase their lost device with the Find My Device app. If you've added a Google Account to your device, Find My Device is automatically turned on.

How do you find a lost Android device? ›

If you lose an Android device or Wear OS watch, you can find, secure, or erase it remotely. You can also help a friend find, secure, or erase their lost device with the Find My Device app. If you've added a Google Account to your device, Find My Device is automatically turned on.

How to locate a lost cell phone that is turned off Android with imei number? ›

Is it possible to track a phone if it is turned off? No, IMEI tracking requires the phone to be turned on and connected to a cellular network. Can I track my phone using GPS instead of IMEI? If your phone has GPS tracking enabled and a tracking app installed, you may be able to use GPS for tracking.

What does find a lost device mean? ›

When you use Find My Device to help find an online device, Find My Device communicates with your lost Android device and collects its current location and other information such as your device's battery level, the Wi-Fi network it's connected to, and the strength of its Wi-Fi and cellular signal.

What apps can I use to find my lost Android? ›

On another Android phone or tablet, open the Find My Device app .
  • If you don't have the app: Get it on Google Play.
  • If you don't have your Android device: On a browser, go to Find My Device.

Can you track a lost Android phone if its dead? ›

Your phone's location-sharing function ceases once it runs out of battery – basically, your live phone location tracking is turned off. However, the last known location remains accessible through applications such as Life360, provided you have previously granted location permissions to the app.

Can you track another Android phone? ›

Head over to android.com/find to locate them on the Web or use the Find My Device app on a friend's phone or tablet by signing into the app as a guest.

Can I track my stolen phone if it's turned off? ›

Yes, it is possible to locate a lost phone even if it's powered down. However, you will only be able to see its last known location before the device was turned off, not its current location.

How to find a lost Android phone that is turned off for free? ›

Find My Device is an excellent service Google provides for Android phone users to track their lost or stolen phones. To use Find My Device to locate a lost phone that is switched off; Ensure the lost phone has Find My Device enabled in Settings > Google Services. Location service is enabled.

How can I find my lost Android phone without a SIM? ›

[6 Ways] How to Track a Phone without a SIM Card
  1. 1 Via Built-In Tracking Service.
  2. 2 Via Google Maps.
  3. 3 Via Phone Tracking Apps.
  4. 4 Via Gmail or Google Account.
  5. 5 Via Social Media Platform.
  6. 6 Via IMEI Number.

Can a device be tracked if it is turned off? ›

A phone that is turned off is difficult to track because it stops sending signals to cell towers. However, the service provider or internet provider can show the last location once it's switched back on.

Can someone else use Find My Device? ›

You can let a friend or family member share and locate a device or accessory, like your car keys, that have a tracker tag. You can stop sharing devices at any time and remove devices and accessories from Find My Device if you no longer own them.

What happens when a device is marked lost? ›

When you mark your iPhone or iPad as lost, your device is put in Lost Mode — it's locked with a passcode, payment cards and passes that you use with Apple Pay are suspended, and you can display a phone number and message for someone who finds your device.

How can I find the exact location of my lost Android phone? ›

Be ready to find a lost Android device
  1. Step 1: Check that you're signed in to a Google Account.
  2. Step 2: Check that Location is on.
  3. Step 3: Check that Find My Device is on.
  4. Step 4: Find offline devices and devices without power.
  5. Step 5: Check if your device is listed on Google Play.
  6. Step 6: Check that you can find your device.

How to locate a lost cell phone that is turned off with an IMEI number? ›

You can use Google's Find my Device to track your device's location. However, if the phone has been turned off or even the location services have been turned off, this won't work. To track the IMEI, you have to get in touch with Law Enforcement Agencies in your country.

Can you ping a lost Android? ›

Google's Find My Device is a one stop shop where you can track, find, ping and even factory reset an Android phone.

How to find lost Android phone without Google account? ›

Through The Phone's IMEI Number: The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a unique identifier for your phone. Contact your wireless carrier and provide them with the IMEI number to report your phone as lost or stolen. They might be able to help you track it.

How can I track my lost Samsung Android phone? ›

Google's Find My Device(https://www.google.com/android/find)is built into Android devices through Google Play Services. This means you will need a Google account to use this service. You can set a new password, make your device ring, display a message, lock and wipe your device, and more.

How to find lost phone using phone number? ›

Method 1: Using Find My Device (Android)
  1. Open the Find My Device app on any Android device or computer.
  2. Sign in to your Google account.
  3. Select the lost phone from the list of devices.
  4. Your phone's location will be displayed on a map. ...
  5. You can also use the app to ring your phone, lock it, or erase it.
Nov 26, 2023

What to do if your phone is lost? ›

If I've lost my phone, what should I do?
  1. Lock and Erase the phone. In some cases, it may simply be impossible to recover a stolen phone. ...
  2. Change all stored passwords. ...
  3. Call your service provider. ...
  4. Call the bank. ...
  5. Block stored cards. ...
  6. Alert contacts. ...
  7. Notify insurance providers. ...
  8. File a police report.

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