Are lost phones found? How to return a stolen phone
If you lost your android device and are looking for possible ways to find it, don't worry, in this article we will show three simple solutions to track your phone easily. In order for the methods below to work, you will need to be authorized in the Google system, otherwise you will not be able to find your smartphone.
Track Android Phone Using Find My Device
All smartphones running the Android operating system are equipped with the useful Find My Device feature. It is designed to restore it or disable it in case of loss and is available to all users in the settings menu without the need to install third-party software. If you want to find your phone, you'll need access to an internet browser where you can pinpoint the location of your Android device.
It should be mentioned that if the service is disabled in the device settings, you will not be able to track the smartphone.
Enable Find My Device in Android Settings
As we have already said, this feature is installed by default on all Android devices. However, if you wish, you can install third-party specialized programs from Google Play, if you are missing the services offered by the developer. Let's look at a few steps to make sure the service is enabled “Find device” on a smartphone.
The setup process doesn't end there. Now you need to enable location services and their history to accurately locate your device. Use the following instructions:
Once these steps are completed, you can find your stolen or lost phone at any time as long as it is connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
Find your lost device using the Find Device service
To complete the following steps, you will need a computer and an Internet browser.
- 1) Go to Android.com/find.
- 2) Enter your Google profile information.
- 3) If you are using multiple devices from one profile, select the one you want to connect to.
After selecting a device, you will be able to perform three possible actions:
- You will be able to make a remote call to your lost device. The phone will play sound continuously for 5 minutes even if it is in silent mode.
- If you wish, you can block the device if you have configured the appropriate settings in your smartphone settings.
- Finally, you still have the option to completely erase the device. Please note that this action will remove the Google account from the phone and eliminate any possibility of tracking it. If you have sensitive information stored on your smartphone and there is no hope of getting it back, the third option will be the best choice.
How to Find an Android Device Using Google Maps
Service Google Maps is one of the important applications for Android phones that helps in tracking stolen devices. To use this feature, your device must be turned on, have access to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, and have location services turned on.
Launch your browser and find your phone using the instructions below:
1. Go to Google Maps and sign in to your account.
2. Click on the menu icon in the upper left corner and click on Timeline.
3. You will be able to set the date, month and year to check the phone's location for that period.
Third party Android device tracking apps
In addition to the factory utilities, there are many third-party applications in Google Play, which can help you find your lost smartphone. Moreover, they provide additional features that are not available in the Find My Device service. Installing any of them can be a good precaution to maintain control of the device.
First application. Where's My Droid.
Where's My Droid is a free software for Android phones that allows you to find a lost smartphone even if it is hidden. It is equipped with an alarm that can be triggered by sending an emergency message to the device. With this app you can locate your device via GPS on Google Maps and prevent unauthorized access by enabling a password system. The program contains SIM monitoring, which will notify you if the SIM card and mobile number have been replaced. According to the developer, the application consumes a minimal amount of energy.
By purchasing the Pro version of the program, you can unlock some additional extensions for your device. However, the free version itself has most of the functions necessary for the main task.
Appendix two. Cerberus anti theft.
Cerberus provides impressive remote device administration capabilities that can help users recover a lost smartphone. With this software, you can remotely control the device via a website or SMS sent from another phone. It will help you find your lost Android, lock it with a password, trigger an alarm, and even take a photo of the thief. The application will send emails and SMS if the SIM card is suddenly replaced. This software offers the ability to hide itself from the application drawer so that a thief cannot disable or delete it.
It should be noted that the application is only available for one free week. Upon completion, you will need to buy the full licensed version.
Appendix three. Prey Anti Theft.
Prey is a good tool that will help protect your device from theft and is intended exclusively for finding lost devices. Once installed, the application leaves a background process to monitor your device and allows remote control. Using GPS services, you can easily find your phone on the map. The application has a useful feature that allows you to take pictures from the front and rear cameras if necessary to capture the thief's face. Like all the programs described above, Prey is also capable of locking the device at your command, setting an alarm, or displaying a message on the smartphone screen for the current user.
Conclusion
Android phone users should ensure that their devices have one of the necessary tracking services so that they can recover their smartphone in case of loss. We recommend that you always save important information in reserve so that you never lose it if your device is stolen.
Just in case you need to recover information from your phone's memory card, these tools will help you Starus Recovery. You can download and try programs for recovering deleted data completely free of charge!
Sometimes careless handling or theft causes the loss of a smartphone. In this case, it is usually recommended to file a statement with the police. But few users know how to find a lost or stolen Android phone on their own.
Meanwhile, there are many possibilities for remote control of your smartphone, and if it is lost, its location can be found in a matter of minutes. Moreover, this can be done even if the gadget is turned off and the attacker has thrown away the SIM card. Here are some tips on how to find a switched off phone on Android.
Most Android smartphones come pre-installed with this useful program. It allows you to control your gadget remotely from another mobile device or home computer.
To configure Android Device Manager, you must perform the following operations in the device settings:
- open the menu in the “Security” section;
- go to the “Administrators” section;
- familiarize yourself with the program’s functions and activate the “Find device” option.
Then you should go to the page through your browser. Using its functionality, you can determine the location of a missing device immediately after it is lost, but provided that the attackers or the person who accidentally found your phone do not reset or change the software settings.
In the first hours after loss, you still have a chance to find your smartphone using the program. To do this, you need to open the program on your computer, activate your Google account and select “Search for phone” in the menu.
By clicking on the “Find” icon, you can determine on the map of your locality the place where the gadget is currently located. This program has another useful feature. If you accidentally lost your mobile device at home, then activate the “Call” function, and after a while your smartphone will loudly announce itself.
The program also allows you to block the device and send a message to the finder.
The previous manager allows you to control your smartphone remotely, but has a limited set of functions. To find an Android phone through a computer, it is better to use full-fledged specialized software. Such a program is Lost Android.
By installing and activating the application, following the step-by-step instructions, you will receive a powerful tool for monitoring your smartphone. In addition to the options for determining the location of the loss via a GPS connection, the ability to block and format data, you will get a unique opportunity to take pictures using the cameras of the lost phone remotely. Thus, within a few minutes after the theft of the device, you can receive a portrait of the criminal to your email.
For many people, a cell phone becomes a repository of personal data, important information, and simply a gadget that is used every day. Sometimes, due to carelessness, a person can lose it or an attacker can steal it. In such cases, you should know how to find your phone, what you need to do in advance with your device.
How to find your phone if it's turned off
This is the most unpleasant situation that can happen if a mobile phone is stolen. The attackers immediately remove the SIM card and turn off the device. This greatly reduces the list of ways to return a mobile phone. If you managed to turn off your cell phone, then you have only one way to find the turned off phone - contact law enforcement agencies. To do this you need:
The number of mobile thefts has decreased significantly after devices became more affordable, but there are still many cases of theft. The police will try to find the cell phone through the operator, but they are really rarely found. You should be mentally prepared for the fact that you will have to purchase a new cell phone. The situation is completely different if you lost your phone, it died and turned off, but the card remained inside. The provider will be able to determine the location of the device and the gadget will be returned to you.
How to find a phone by IMEI
This code is a unique serial identifier for devices. You can find it on the device box or under the smartphone battery. It consists of 15 digits; if necessary, it can be displayed on the phone screen using a special command. After purchase, it is recommended to write down the IMEI somewhere in a notepad or on a warranty card/receipt. If you contact the police, you will need this code.
Law enforcement agencies are asking the court for permission to require the operator to find the phone by IMEI. All smartphones run on one of the operating systems (Windows Phone, Adnroid, iOS), which makes it a mini-PC. With the help of satellites, a telecom operator can find a stolen cell phone using the IMEI code; only the provider can do this. To do this, there must be a court order requesting this operation.
There are sites on the Internet that offer to track your device using the IMEI code. Third-party resources do not have this option; if after entering data you are asked to send an SMS - this is an attempt to lure money. Code databases are stored only by the operator; they are not publicly available. You can only enter the IMEI of your stolen smartphone, other users can then check if they are being offered to buy a stolen phone.
How to find a phone by phone number
Every person in Russia, when purchasing a package from a company, enters into an agreement and, as a rule, only one SIM card from the company is used. Unfortunately, it is not possible to search for a phone number by card number. Only a telecom operator has such technologies and capabilities, but they will not do this at your personal request. The point is not laziness, but the high cost of the procedure; it is not standard and requires the expenditure of human and technical resources. This only makes sense when looking for limited-edition or high-priced smartphones.
On the Internet you can find resources that offer to determine the location of a lost smartphone for free if it has been stolen. This is another myth; third-party sites do not have such capabilities. The exception is official resources from Samsung and iPhone manufacturers, which link an account to the device and search through a satellite channel (GPS), if it is turned on.
How to find a lost Android phone through a computer
Many portable gadgets run on the Android operating system. It is absolutely free and is very popular, so developers are actively creating applications and programs based on this OS. Every smartphone owner can find an Android device using special utilities. The only negative is that applications should be installed in advance, but most people remember this when their cell phone has already been stolen or lost. You should install it yourself from the official Google Play store. Here are some popular options:
Search for a phone via Google account from a computer
One of the easiest options for finding a stolen phone is through the Google service. The Android operating system belongs to this company, so all devices based on the OS have good compatibility with the system. This does not mean that you cannot find a phone through a Google account on iOS or Windows. To search for a mobile phone that has been stolen or lost, you need to create an account in the system.
Next, you need to go from the settings to the “Accounts” section, click on the line called “Google” and log in. For all owners of devices with Android version 5 and higher, nothing else needs to be done. The system will automatically open access for remote control. All other devices need to go to the “Administrators” section and activate the ability to access the device through a computer. You will then be able to do the following from your Google account:
- turn on the signal at full volume to find a lost or stolen device, if it is nearby;
- you can block the device and set a message on the screen asking you to return it for a reward;
- it is possible to turn on the search, the address where the cell phone was last found will be displayed;
- Completely erase all data from the device online using a computer.
How to find a phone using GPS via a computer
You can try to find your phone via satellite using your mobile number. The geopositioning system is capable of determining the location of an object through a beacon with an accuracy of several meters. If the tracker is turned on on the device, the system will be able to find the phone using GPS. The main problem is that the person who found the cell phone can easily turn off the sensor and the cell phone itself. After this, this search option will not work.
To track a device, you need to install a special application that will carry out tracking. Next, from your computer you will be able to log into your account and track the location of your smartphone. For example, the following applications are suitable:
- Live GPS Tracker;
- TrackMe;
- My World GPS Tracker.
Video: how to find a lost phone
These days it's hard to find anyone who doesn't have a cell phone. Nowadays, a mobile phone is not only a means of communication, but also a repository of very important and valuable information. These are not only phone numbers and photos, but also various applications with which you can manage your bank account or e-wallet. Therefore, losing your electronic gadget can be a real problem. How to find a lost phone and protect yourself from this in the future?
What to do if you lost your phone
There are several ways to find a lost phone, it depends primarily on how and where you lost it.
If you lost your phone at home
If you have lost your phone in your apartment, then consider yourself lucky, because in such circumstances the chances of finding a mobile device are much higher than in other cases.
The easiest way is to call your number from another phone, but this method is only suitable if the gadget is turned on.
If you know that you have it turned off, then the following search methods will do:
- Remember where and when you last held a phone in your hands, and what you did next after that. Go through the entire route first, performing the same actions, while simultaneously looking around. You could have dropped it behind the sofa, left it on a shelf and put something on top, or even put it in the refrigerator by mistake, this happens.
- Consider even the most unusual options at first glance. After all, you can, holding a phone in one hand and a banana skin in the other, get distracted and accidentally throw something in the trash that wasn’t what you planned.
- Ask those who were in the apartment with you at the time of your disappearance if they took your phone to call. Perhaps they moved your cell phone to another location or simply forgot to return it. If you have children, then look into their toys, children are very attracted to modern gadgets and they always reach for them with their little hands.
- Combining the search process with spring cleaning is very useful, it will help you more thoroughly explore all the hidden places that you would not have thought to check. As a result, you will not only find your loss, but also make your home cleaner, and, perhaps, find something else that was lost earlier.
- Use a flashlight to check areas that are not getting enough light. For example, under the sofa or behind the closet.
- If you know you have an alarm set on your device, it's more likely to go off even if your phone is turned off. Make sure that by the appointed time there is silence in the apartment, listen carefully and follow the sound.
Video on how to find a phone
If you lost your phone on the street or in a public place
Of course, your chances of finding a phone in such a situation are much lower than in the first case, but it’s still worth a try.
Try to locate the place where you might have lost your phone. Remember where you last used it, if you usually carry your phone in your bag, you might have dropped it when you took something out of it. Your memories will help to significantly narrow down the search area.
You can post advertisements along your route, where you report your situation and promise to pay a reward to the person who finds your cell phone. It is much more convenient to receive a reward for your find than to try to sell a phone without documents.
Finding a switched off phone is very difficult; you will increase your chances of success if you install one of the applications on your phone in advance that will help you find your smartphone. One such application is Signal Flare, it will help if the phone turns off due to a low battery. As soon as the system signals that the battery is low, the application starts recording the location of the gadget, it uses GPS and a Wi-Fi network signal.
If your phone is stolen
In this case, it is very important to act quickly; the easiest way to find a thief is without delay. Contact the police department in the area where the theft occurred. Write a statement, indicate a description of the suspect, if there is one, tell the time and place where the loss was discovered.
Please provide the number in your application IMEI your device. This individual identification number is assigned to each smartphone; you can find it on a sticker that is located under the battery in the phone or on the box of your device. IMEI consists of fifteen digits, it includes the phone model number, country of origin and individual code. This number remains unchanged even if you change the SIM card.
You can download special software in advance, which, using your phone’s IMEI number, will notify you via SMS to the selected number that the SIM card has been changed in your device and will send you a new phone number.
Under a court order, your cell phone carrier can provide law enforcement with information using your phone ID number that includes information about the time of calls, their duration and, most importantly, the location of the mobile device in relation to the nearest telephone tower. Such information is stored in the server memory billing.
In theory, everything sounds easy and simple, but in practice you will encounter problems detecting your phone using this method.
- Firstly, thousands of phones are lost and stolen every day in cities, and law enforcement agencies are in no hurry to open a case in each of these cases. Perhaps they will dissuade you from writing a statement, hinting that the chances of finding the loss are very low.
- Secondly, cellular operators are not always cooperative; without a court order, they may refuse to provide you with billing data, citing a legislative framework that does not regulate the work process in such cases.
- Thirdly, a request from law enforcement agencies to provide data can take a very long time to process; during this time, an attacker can already change the IMEI number by reloading the software on the phone, which makes it impossible to further identify it in the operator’s database.
How to protect yourself from lost or stolen phone
It is impossible to protect yourself 100% from the possibility of losing your phone, but you can minimize this likelihood by following simple rules and recommendations.
- Always keep your phone in the same place. If you carry a bag, then allocate a separate internal pocket for your mobile phone, preferably with a zipper. This way you will get used to having your phone there all the time and will immediately notice if it is missing. At home, keep your phone, for example, on your bedside table or anywhere else, so that you always know where your favorite gadget is.
- There are headsets that notify the owner that the mobile device to which they are connected has moved more than five meters away. This signal will help you not to leave your phone in the office or on a table in a cafe; it will also inform you that your phone may have been stolen, and right now the thief is running away.
- During rush hour, public transport is crowded with a lot of people, everyone stands very close to each other and in such a situation it is almost impossible to feel that your phone is being pulled out. To protect yourself from this, use headphones, turn on your favorite music on your phone, this will not only brighten up your trip, but also suddenly turning off the song will be a signal that someone has stolen your cell phone.
- Add a keychain to your phone that is specially designed to help you find your missing item in your home or office. There are several principles of operation of such devices, some begin to emit a sound in response to clapping or whistling, while others respond to a signal from a transmitter that you can keep in your wallet or bag.
Losing your phone has always been an unpleasant event, but with the advancement of technology, it can be a solvable problem. It is best to worry about the likelihood of such an incident in advance: install special programs designed to help find the loss; set a password when unlocking so that attackers cannot use your phone; save all important data to cloud storage so that you can always use it.
In contact with
Agree, in our time, losing a phone is equivalent to a disaster! After all, without this universal gadget you cannot read the latest news, take a live photo, or even find your position on the ground.
So, how to find your lost phone in the shortest possible time?
What to do if you lost your phone at home?
Since smartphones are an essential part of modern life, a task such as finding a lost phone at home should not take much time. Usually we use communication devices constantly - to make calls, write notes and messages, take photographs, check email... Therefore, the loss should be detected literally in the first 20 minutes from the moment of last use.
Remember which specific rooms you were in and what exactly you were doing during the last two hours, carefully search your places of deployment.
Interview friends or family members. If each of you is sure that you have lost your phone at home and it is turned on, finding it will be easy - just call it from another device. The location is easy to determine by sound.
Some device owners recommend this method of finding a lost phone using a magnet - slowly walk around all the rooms with a large magnet, carefully looking into every corner. It is worth noting that it is better to resort to this method only in extreme cases! The effect of a magnetic field on a phone, even short-term, can lead to irreversible damage.
By the way, these tips also work during searches in other buildings: cafes, universities, work offices, etc.
What to do if you lost your phone on the street?
If you or someone you know loses your phone on the street, finding it will be a little more difficult. The first rule is – don’t even think about calling from someone else’s smartphone to yours! The sound may attract unscrupulous passers-by, who will probably decide to keep the find for themselves.
Remember where you last saw the device - be sure to visit this place, searching every corner of it. If this does not help, walk along your entire route over the past day, carefully examining the streets, shops, stops and benches.
You can even post missing notices in the approximate location of the loss, although this method, unfortunately, is not as effective as we would like.
Ask your friends to help you: by splitting up and going to several places at once, you will increase the chances of achieving a goal such as finding a lost phone.
Search using the Internet and satellites
You don’t even have to hope for the option of finding a lost phone using a mobile number - mobile operators are extremely rare in helping to track the approximate location of the SIM card. Although exceptional cases are also known.
A lost phone can be easily found using the Internet, provided it is turned on and has the Android or IOS operating system installed. Starting from the fourth version, the developers of this program are sure to add the ability to remotely control the device to the settings.
When purchasing, be sure to set up this function - in case of loss or theft, the gadget will send you a message about changing the SIM card and even photos that will allow you to determine the location.
Another option for finding a lost phone on Android: as a rule, users of this operating system register a personal account on Google+. By opening your personal account on the site, you can easily find where your phone is, provided that it is turned on and the geolocation function is working.
What to do if you lost your switched off phone?
In this case, the IMEI code comes to the rescue. This is a specific unique set of characters that is assigned to each manufactured device. Even if you change your phone number, its IMEI code will not change. A phone that supports 2 SIM cards will also have two such encryptions. This allows, in the event of a theft, to determine whether the robber has changed the mobile number on this device.
Finding out your IMEI is very simple - enter the combination “*#06#” on the keyboard. If the gadget is already lost, you can find out the code by looking at the device packaging, its instructions or warranty card.
Unfortunately, there is no way to find a lost phone using the IMEI code yourself. You need to transfer all data to law enforcement agencies, who will resolve this issue using cellular services.
Search Assistive Devices
Some far-sighted smartphone owners, caring about their time, purchase special devices that are specifically designed to solve problems such as finding a phone if it’s lost.
This includes key fobs with special indicators that react to light, sound or movement. If you have lost your phone, just use one of the suggested irritants. For example, some similar accessories react to clapping or whistling.
Caring developers also came up with devices such as “Not Lost”. They can take a variety of forms, but the most common are keychain-app to other portable device connections. The 2 communicators communicate via a GPS signal.
Let's say you lost your phone in your room. As you gradually approach it or move away in the opposite direction (it all depends on the settings), the device with the installed application will sound a sound signal and show the position of the phone with the key fob on the map.
Take these ideas into account - such devices will be a good gift for those who have ever lost their phone.
Preventive measures
As you can see, taking care of a problem in advance is much easier than solving it later. Finally, here are a few more tips to answer the question “How to find a lost phone?” never stopped you from enjoying life.
Turn the ability to use your device into a necessity. Replace your diary, books, radio, camera, MP3 player with just 1 device - your phone. Moreover, modern models allow this to be done. Thus, the gadget will always be at your fingertips and in sight.
Make it a rule to always carry your phone in the same pocket - make the act of putting it there automatic, so that the question of searching doesn’t even arise.
In crowded places, try not only to put your phone in a secure pocket, but also to hold it with your hand - you will not always be able to instantly feel its absence even in tight clothes.
Install special “anti-theft” applications on your devices in advance - they are different for each operating system. These include multi-level locking systems, the ability to unlock only with your fingerprint, and notification of a SIM card change. Unfortunately, the programs will not help with the question of how to find a lost phone, but they will make your gadget useless in the hands of a burglar. And this will make him think about whether it is worth stealing other people's things.