You are worried about not being able to find your Android phone. Maybe it was stolen? Let go of your fears by setting up a tracking system before the worst happens. Most smartphones now come with a built-in Find My Device service (formerly called Android Device Manager). This service automatically tracks the location of your phone, so if it gets lost, you can sit down at your computer and find out the last known location of the lost gadget..
While Google's built-in service is certainly better than nothing, there are decent alternatives in the form of third-party apps. Below we will tell you about the best of them. If in doubt about the choice, install several. It's much easier than looking for a lost phone that doesn't have a security system at all.
Google Find My Device
Find My Device is the official Google tool for tracking your lost Android phone or tablet, no need to install it. All you need to do is log into the Find My Device website using your Google account. The site will automatically try to locate your phone..
In a recent update, Google introduced new features to the search page: you can quickly find any registered Android device right in the search results, as you usually search for some information. If you enter the phrase "where is my phone," Google displays a small map above the search results.
You can track a lost device from someone else's phone. To do this, use the Find My Device application. They are logged in using guest mode and a Google account. Now you can track your lost device, make it call or wipe data..
Can't find your Android this way? There may be 2 reasons for this: it is not connected to the Internet or it is turned off.
Timeline from Google
Here's what you need to do. Go to the timeline of places from Google (formerly Google Maps' location history) and make sure the current day is selected in the calendar. On the left sidebar, you can see the complete timeline for that day, including the names of all recorded locations. On the right, you can see all the locations shown on the map.
In addition to Find Your Device, which uses the GPS satellite system for tracking, the timeline uses cell tower IDs and Wi-Fi location to collect data about the location of the device. This way, you can identify frequently visited places where the thief might live or work. This will help the police catch the one who stole the phone.
Samsung Find My Mobile
If you have a Samsung device, you may be able to find your phone using the Samsung tracking service - Find my mobile .
Is the app installed? Wonderful! Go to and sign in to the Find my mobile site. Check the left side panel and make sure the device is connected to the account. Now all you have to do is select Find My Device in the sidebar and click the Find button.
If the device is connected to a network and remote control is enabled, you will see its approximate location. This option also allows you to perform other actions: lock the device, call it, send messages, and erase data.
Prey Anti Theft
Prey Anti Theft is an app from a developer with over 10 years of experience in finding lost phones, laptops and tablets. It is also available for iOS, Windows, Linux, Ubuntu or Mac. With a free account, you can track up to three devices. The service is used by over 7 million people.
Prey opens up a wide range of remote control options. Obtaining the exact coordinates of the device on a map and access to all built-in cameras will allow you to find out the location as accurately as possible. It not only has GPS, but also scans nearby Wi-Fi networks for better location determination.
If the phone disappears in a closed room, for example, at a conference, you can remotely activate a very loud sound signal, even if the silent mode is enabled. Displaying a warning message on the screen will help motivate an attacker to return the device to its owner. When you change the SIM card, you will receive a message with information about the new card. By sending just one SMS command from any phone, you will begin to receive a report on the status and location of the gadget.
Family locator
Appendix The Family Locator by Life360 is primarily intended for friends or family members can share their location with each other. But it can also be used to find a stolen phone.
It will be most beneficial for families with multiple phones at the same time. Family members unite in Circle - the name of a closed group of people in the application who have confirmed their consent to the fact that the location of their phones will be tracked in real time. If a phone from this group is lost or stolen, the application will immediately show its location.
Where my droid
The main functions of the Where My Droid app will allow you to call your lost phone, locate it using GPS on Google maps and use a passcode to prevent unauthorized changes to the device. When you change the SIM card, a notification immediately comes, invisible mode is available.
There is Stealth Mode (stealth mode), which will not allow a thief to view incoming text messages. You can use SMS messages to control the device. The paid version allows you to remotely erase data, lock your device, and control the front and rear cameras to take pictures of the intruder.
Use Google Photos
With the Google Photos backup and sync feature, all images taken on your phone will be uploaded to your account. The image shows where it was taken. Therefore, if the thief did not sign out of the Google account and used the camera, new images will appear in Google Photos.
So, log into Google Photos with your account. Check if photos were taken after the device was stolen. If so, click on the image. Now click on the information icon in the upper right corner. In the sidebar that appears, you can see information about the image, including the location where it was taken.
Please be careful if you have located your lost phone - it could very well be the thief's home address. Don't try to pick it up yourself! Use this information and call the police to accept your application.
Frequently asked Questions
Can I find my phone if it is turned off or the battery is low?
There is no way to do this, unless, of course, you work for the FSB. If you do not have access to the Internet, you can use the location history, if this function is activated, to see where he was before the connection was lost.
Can I track my phone if someone has done a factory reset ?
Doing so will reset it to factory defaults, meaning it will not be connected to your Google Account. If you haven't installed a rooted tracking app like Cerberus, you won't be able to find it anymore.
Can I find my phone by IMEI number?
This is impossible. The only way out is to block it. The best way to do this is to contact your mobile operator. By the way, you can find out the IMEI by dialing * # 06 #. This code works on most devices.
My phone is not showing on Find My Device. Why?
There can be many reasons for this: it is turned off, disconnected from the Internet, or from your Google account. Keep in mind that changing your account password will automatically disconnect it from Google and Find My Device will not be able to track it.
