Find phone - search for a lost device

Find phone - search for a lost device

You can find a phone, like an Android tablet, for this there are several functions on the device itself and an online service that greatly simplifies this task.

When searching, the main thing is not to panic and clearly understand what needs to be done, so the chances of returning your device will be much higher - when the head remains sober.

In the last article, we examined in detail how to delete a Google account on Android. Now we will analyze how to find a phone that is turned off or on through a computer, laptop, another phone or tablet as accurately and quickly as possible, for example, if it is lost on the street. So you can find not only your Android smartphone, but also a tablet with this OS.

Find phone - first steps

Let's start with the very first steps that you need to take immediately when you discover that your smartphone or tablet is missing.

Call your number from another phone. If he is nearby, then the sound will not be difficult to determine the location. If it is lost somewhere far away, someone can pick it up and then return it to you.

Plus, this way we can find out:

·        Is it included

·        Did anyone find it

·        Was it stolen or not - everything is simple here, if at the time of the loss the charge was full, and when you call the smartphone is turned off, then the probability is 99% that it was stolen

Next, let's move on to the second chapter, we will use the search by geolocation.

How to find a phone - by geolocation

Geolocation search using GPS is the best and fastest option. For it to work, a Google account must be linked on the device you are looking for, the functions: "Location / Geolocation" and "Find device" are enabled - they are activated by default when the account is linked (unless you turned them off manually). Also, the device must be turned on and with a working Internet.

Important! If 2-Step Verification was turned on, you'll need the phone number you used to set it up, or a backup code that you had to write down somewhere.

1. Open the official Google service - and select the device you are looking for from the list if you have more than one.

2. The visual map will display location information, if the smartphone is turned off, the last point where it was turned on will be displayed. The smartphone itself will receive a notification that it has been found by the service.

Important! The location error can reach 25 meters or more, so when you go searching, study the area nearby and turn on the sound signal - more on that below.

Additionally, the following information on the device will be displayed here:

·        Time of last connection to the network

·        Name of Wi-Fi connection network

·        How much battery power is left

Actions that can be done remotely:

Ring - at the highest volume, the sound will play for 5 minutes. So, going to the place you can hear where the device is

Lock device - the device will be locked in the way you set: fingerprint, pattern or other. Plus your Google account will be unlinked. If the blocking has not been configured, then it will be set automatically, you will need to specify a PIN. On the locked screen, you can leave a message to the person who found, for example, your mobile, which you can call to get your smartphone back. This feature does not disable map search.

Wipe device - will erase all data from the device. This will also disable tracking on the map. To make such a lost phone work again, you need to enter the password from the last linked Google account. Use the function only if you are sure that the smartphone will not be returned to you and it is lost forever. In this case, the data may not be deleted from the SD card, this should also be taken into account (an attacker can simply pull it out).

3. If the phone is turned on and no one has found it yet, go to the place where it was lost and turn on the ringing function, search by sound. Look at least within a radius of 25 meters.

4. If the phone is turned off and you are sure that the attackers stole it, then first of all it is worth blocking the device or immediately clearing it (if found, access can be restored). Next, go to the police and write a statement for the loss / theft. Be sure to take your passport and purchase documents with you - a check or a box, plus IMEI .

About third-party services, application and satellite search

1. Third-party applications - have almost the same functionality as the official one. And they will search, just through Google services. Installing them after the loss does not make any sense. If you install any of them before the loss, then the only interesting function may be perhaps - a photo from the camera of the one who tries to unlock the device. But some models can also do this without third-party solutions.

2. Third-party programs - it makes no sense to install them all the more. Most third-party search software is trite fraudulent. You can just give away your money.

3. Third-party services - for the most part, another type of fraud. Finding your device in this way is unlikely to succeed.

4. Satellite search for free or paid - if we are talking about geolocation, then we have considered this method above. If we are talking about searching by satellite by number or IMEI - this is 100% fraud, do not even look at sites that offer such services, this simply does not exist in nature. Read more

Finally

First of all, always try to call the device yourself, look for it in the place of the last inclusion and be sure to write a statement to the relevant authorities. So the chances of finding will be much greater.