How to locate your Android smartphone when it’s lost
If your Android phone(Opens in a new tab) is ever lost or stolen, you might have a number of methods to observe it down. Google offers an app and web site referred to as Discover My Machine, which helps you to search out your lacking Android, safe it, and erase all information. Samsung units have an extra characteristic referred to as Discover My Cell, which permits you to observe down your lost gadget. Here is how to use Discover My Machine and Discover My Cell so as to observe down your lacking telephone.
Cannot discover your smartphone? Here are some tips(Opens in a new tab), courtesy of PCMag’s Lance Whitney.
Google’s Discover My Machine
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Google’s Discover My Machine service is on the market as an Android app(Opens in a new tab) and standalone web page and(Opens in a new tab) works with any Android gadget. In case you’re already signed into your Google account, you must see a map with all your registered units robotically displayed. From right here, you possibly can choose the picture of the gadget you need to discover and track its location(Opens in a new tab) on the map.
You may then play a sound to ping your gadget, lock it and show a message on the display screen, or wipe all private information. Google has some additional information(Opens in a new tab) you possibly can reference for those who want to discover, lock, or erase your Android telephone.
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In case you assume the gadget is inside earshot, faucet Play Sound to ping the telephone or pill. You may then observe the sound to your gadget. Even when the gadget is just not in your fast space, the ping might alert a Good Samaritan who might discover it. When finished, faucet the Cease sound button.
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In case you can’t discover the gadget or aren’t close by, you possibly can lock it in order that nobody can entry it. You may as well add a message and telephone quantity for anybody who does discover it to allow them to attain out.
Faucet Safe gadget, then add a message and telephone quantity to show on the lock display screen. Faucet Safe Machine to finalize and lock the telephone. The lacking telephone is locked with your message and telephone quantity displayed.
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If the gadget is lost or stolen, you possibly can wipe it clean(Opens in a new tab) as a final resort. Faucet Erase Machine after which faucet it once more to finalize this motion. Be sure you learn the data on what’s going to occur to your telephone right here as a result of there’s no going again.
You could be requested if you would like to assessment your Google Account. Faucet the Safety Checkup hyperlink and undergo the safety steps. In case you change your thoughts about erasing your gadget, faucet Dismiss.
Samsung’s Discover My Cell
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You probably have a Samsung telephone, you may also make use of a particular characteristic referred to as Discover My Cell to observe down a lost gadget. Set this up on your telephone by going to Settings > Biometrics and safety and activate Discover My Cell. Observe that this characteristic requires a Samsung account.
Open the Discover My Cell settings and activate Distant unlock to give you the option to unlock your telephone and management it remotely. Activate the choice for Ship final location to obtain the final recognized location of your telephone if the battery drops under a sure stage. Allow Offline discovering to give you the option to locate your telephone even when it’s offline.
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As soon as enabled, use the SmartThings Discover website(Opens in a new tab) or app(Opens in a new tab) to observe down any Samsung gadget related to the identical Samsung account. The service ought to show the situation of your Samsung telephone on the map, which incorporates different controls to assist you to with your lacking gadget.
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Select the Ring choice, then press Begin to ping your telephone. It’ll then begin ringing to assist you to observe it down if it’s close by or permit another person to discover it. You may as well choose the Lock choice to set a PIN to unlock your gadget, enter a contact telephone quantity the place you will be reached, and add a message that may show on the Lock display screen.
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In case you assume your telephone is being moved to a special location, you possibly can select Monitor location to get an up to date view of your telephone’s location each quarter-hour. You may as well wipe the telephone clear for those who’re nervous about somebody gaining entry to your information. Hit the Erase information icon to reset the phone back to factory settings(Opens in a new tab).
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In case you plan to erase your telephone or do not consider you’ll ever retrieve it, you possibly can again up the info remotely. Click on the Again up icon, then arrange multi-factor verification(Opens in a new tab), for those who haven’t already finished so. Click on the web site hyperlink within the notification to obtain backup codes that can be utilized to sign up, even when your telephone is lost or stolen.
Choose all the info factors you want to again up, similar to messages and contacts, after which choose Again up to ship your information to be saved on the Samsung Cloud(Opens in a new tab) service.
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You probably have any necessary messages or voicemails on the telephone, you possibly can remotely retrieve them for those who select the Retrieve calls/messages choice. This may permit you to see and listen to up to 50 latest calls and messages.
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In case you ever overlook the PIN that unlocks your telephone, you possibly can at all times open it from the SmartThings Find(Opens in a new tab) web site by selecting the Unlock button. To extend the life of your phone’s battery(Opens in a new tab), choose the Prolong battery life choice, which activates the utmost energy saving mode your telephone gives, providing you with additional time to locate the gadget earlier than it runs out of juice.
This text initially appeared on PCMag.com(Opens in a new tab), ClassyBuzz’s sibling website. PCMag.com(Opens in a new tab) is a number one authority on expertise, delivering Labs-based, impartial opinions of the newest services and products.
