Android phones come with a built-in tracker that lets you locate their location from a PC or different device. And if you have a Samsung phone, you also have one more tool at your disposal. Even the government has offered a dedicated website to track your phone using its IMEI number. So, you have more than one way to find your lost or stolen Android phone or tablet. You just need to ensure you meet certain prerequisites and you should be able to spot the missing device.
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Requirements to find lost or stolen Android phone
- The lost or stolen Android device must be connected to stable internet.
- The device must be paired to your Google account.
- Both location services and the Find My Device setting must be on. You can check the latter by going to Security -> Find My Device or Google -> Find My Device.
![Google Find My Device]()
- If you have a Samsung phone or tablet, check if Find My Mobile is on by going to Settings > Biometrics and Security and turning on Find My Mobile. You need a Samsung account for this. Also, if you enable the Remote Unlock setting within Find My Mobile
- For using the CEIR website to track lost phones, you should know the IMEI number of the device. That’s it.
How to find a lost phone using Google’s Find My Device
Step 1: Go to the Google Find My Device web portal.
Step 2: Sign in to the Google account to which the Android device is paired.
Step 3: You should see Android devices connected to your Google account in the top left corner. Tap on the lost phone from that roster.
Step 4: The map on the right will show you the location of the selected device. You can also remotely play a sound, lock down the device, and erase it from this website.
How to find a lost phone using Samsung’s Find My Mobile
Step 1: Go to https://smartthingsfind.samsung.com/login or open the Smarthings app (Google Play Store).
Step 2: Provided all settings are properly enabled, you can locate the device on the map on this site or app.
Step 3: You can also tap and activate other controls like Lock, Ring, Erase Data, etc. You can tap the Track option to get updated location data. You can remotely Back Up data and post that erase the data.
How to find a lost phone using the CEIR website
Ensure you have already filed a complaint at the nearest police station about your lost/stolen phone.
Step 1: Go to https://ceir.gov.in/Home/index.jsp
Step 2: Tap the Block Lost/Stolen Mobile option.
Step 3: Fill in some basic details like mobile number, device brand, owner’s name, address, ID proof, police complaint number, etc. You have to also upload a police complaint letter.
Step 4: You will get a Request ID. Save it somewhere as you will use it to track the device.
How to find a lost phone using Google Maps
Google Maps keeps a timeline of all the places you have travelled to and if it’s a matter of your phone being misplaced or you forgot where you kept it, the Google Maps timeline may come in handy. Here’s what you have to do:
Step 1: Go to maps.google.com and sign in to the Google account which is paired to your lost phone.
Step 2: Click on the hamburger menu and choose Your Timeline option. This will present you with all the places you have travelled in the past. You can specifically look for some time and try to nail down the possible place where you lost your phone.
How to find a lost phone using AirDroid Find Phone
Step 1: Install AirDroid from the Google Play Store and open it.
Step 2: On the bottom navigation pane, select Me.
Step 3: Tap on Security & Remote features.
Step 4: Scroll to the bottom and enable Find Phone. You will have to grant certain permissions, sign in to your AirDroid account, and activate AirDroid as device admin.
Step 5: Next, go to web.airdroid.com and enable the wireless connection. Login with the same email ID and password you used for signing up/for the AirDroid account.
Step 6: Click on the Find Phone feature. You can remotely lock the phone, delete all the data, ring the phone, etc.
FAQs
How can I find my phone if it’s turned off?
You can find the last location before the device is turned off on the Google Find My Device service. You can also try finding the places the phone has been before it switched off on Google Maps timeline.
Just so you know, Samsung Find My Mobile doesn’t work when your phone is off.
How can I locate my lost phone with an IMEI number?
You can find your phone using an IMEI number on the CEIR website. The process is explained above. Now, if you are wondering how to find your IMEI number, you can check it on the phone box, if you happen to have it with you. It will be of 15 digits.
What are some third-party apps that I can use to track device location?
Well, there is no point in knowing these if you have already lost your phone. However, if you are installing it as a precautionary measure, you can try installing apps like Cerebrus (paid), Life360, Where’s My Droid and various antivirus apps like Lookout, Kaspersky, Avast, etc.
