If you can’t recover your smartphone, you can always wipe it to prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. Both methods will take you to the next step. Alternatively, you can also go to Google. While you can configure Find My Device ahead of time, the service should be available if you lose or misplace your phone by using Wi-Fi or GPS to help you hunt down your device. We’ve covered Find My Device and its ability to call you, set up a new password, and make your phone ring from afar, along with a variety of other notification functions. Using the feature is as easy as searching for, “Where is my phone?” in Google, which will prompt the service to search for your phone. Most devices running Android 2.3 or later can use this feature.Īlways enable Find My Device on your Android smartphone. The easiest way to locate a lost Android handset is to use the Find My Device feature, which is built into your Android smartphone through Google Play Services - it also can be used in a browser or downloaded from the Google Play Store. Here’s our guide on how to find a lost phone or a similar device for each operating system. Stick with sending phone numbers or email addresses to communicate how a finder can return your phone. Avoid revealing personal information, such as your home address, until you know you’re dealing with someone you can trust.

These features work great as long your phone’s battery holds up.Įxercise caution when communicating with anyone who has found your smartphone. Both allow you to remotely lock and wipe your phone, make it ring, and set up special messages to alert whoever finds it. If you happen to lose track of your iOS or Android smartphone, both Apple and Google feature built-in phone retrieval technology as part of the native software package that works via your device account - Google for your Android account and iCloud for your iPhone. There are also a variety of third-party apps you can install to track your smartphone. There are plenty of ways to find your lost iPhone or Android device because your smartphone or tablet running iOS or Android already has the software needed to hunt it down.

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