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If you've lost your Android™ phone – and it happens to all of us – you know how stressful it can be to quickly retrace your steps, rummage through pockets or turn over couch cushions trying to find it. There is, however, a simpler way. It's called Google Find My Device™, and we'll walk you through how to turn Find My Device on and off on Android.
How Find My Device works
O Find My Device is included with most Android phones and is automatically activated if you add a Google™ account to your device.
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You can use this feature to locate your phone by making it ring or pinpointing its location.
You can also use the Find My Device to lock or erase your phone remotely to protect your personal data.
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Want to confirm that Find My Device is enabled and working? Be you setting up your new phone or just preparing for the worst, we'll show you how.
How to Enable Find My Device on Your Samsung Phone
- Open it settings.
- Touch in Biometrics and security.
- Tap Find my device and slide the switch to on.
Want to improve your location accuracy? That's easy too. Go to Settings > Location. Then select Location Services and tap Google Location Accuracy. Check if the option is activated.
How to activate Find My Device on your Google Pixel
- Open it settings.
- Tap Security > Find my device.
- Activate the option.
You should also make sure to turn on location services on your Google Pixel™. Open it settings and tap Location. Make sure to enable the option.
How to find your phone using Find My Device
To locate, lock, or erase your phone, your device will need to be turned on, signed in to a Google account, connected to the Internet, visible on Google Play™, and with Location It is Find my Device activated.
From there it's simple:
- Open the application Find My Device on another device or go to google.com/android/find.
- Log in to your Google account.
- Find My Device will show an approximate location.
- To track a nearby device, select Play sound. The device will ring loudly for five minutes.
- Press the button On off to stop the ringing once it finds your phone.
How to Lock Your Android Phone Remotely
If Find My Device shows that your phone is far away or you suspect that it has been stolen, you should lock it immediately to prevent anyone from accessing your personal information or using your phone data. See how:
- Open the application Find My Device on another device or go to google.com/android/find .
- Log in to your Google account.
- Select Secure Device.
- Your phone will be locked. You can also add a custom message so that others can contact you if they find your device.
How to Remotely Erase Data from Your Android Phone
If you're worried that you won't be able to recover your phone, you can erase its data remotely. This should be a last resort as you will lose any data you have not recently backed up. If you're ready to take that step, here's what to do:
- Open the application Find My Device on another device or go to google.com/android/find.
- Log in to your Google account.
- Select Erase device .
How to disable Find My Device on your Android
Find My Device is a great tool if you lose your phone. But if you want to stop sharing your location, it's easy to disable the feature with these steps:
- Open it settings.
- Tap Security.
- Go to Find my device and slide the switch to off.
To stop your device from sharing your location, you'll also need to turn off location tracking:
- Open it settings.
- Tap Location.
- Disable.