One of the worst feelings in the world – you reach in your pocket or your bag, and you cannot find your phone. This happens to most of us daily, and there is at least one moment per week when we are completely sure that our device is gone and lost forever. In most cases, the device is in your other pocket, deeper in the bag, or just on your bed or desk. Those mini heart attacks that we get every time we cannot find our phone are normal, and we are used to them. Even though we start panicking, deep down we know that our device is somewhere near, but we just cannot see it. However, sometimes the device is really lost, and we cannot find it even after 10 or 15 minutes of searching. That is when we really start to panic, and we try to remember all our previous steps, what we did, and where could we find it. In this 2024 guide, we are going to help you learn how to find a lost or stolen Android phone. Keep on reading so that you can promptly react, without having to Google when your mind is already racing.
1. Check your Google account
The first thing you need to do if you cannot find your device is to open your Google account. All android devices are connected to Google, so you can use the settings there to see when your phone was last online, where it currently is, and what you can do to access the information.
Know that there are a lot of different features that are available via Google, starting from calling your phone, seeing when it was last connected to the internet, and you can also access it remotely. All of these things are extremely easy to do, and the only thing you need to do is follow the instructions on the screen depending on what you want to do.
You can even use the settings to secure your device, meaning no one will be able to unlock it without your specific password, and you can even add a message that will be shown on the screen if someone finds it. You can add information about a different number where people can reach you, and they won’t have to look for ways to access your contact list. This is a great feature for those who don’t have unlock passcodes, and for those who are unsure if their device was locked at the time when they last saw it.
2. Try calling your device
Sometimes we don’t have a laptop near us, and we cannot use our Google account to locate our device, so the best thing you can do right now is to just call your phone using someone else’s device. This will give you information if the device is still on, if someone turned it off, and if it is near you, you will be able to hear it.
In case you have it connected with your smartwatch or any other type of device, you can usually ring your phone without using any other type of device. If you have it connected to your watch, you will get a notification if the device is out of reach, or if it is in your close proximity. Use these devices to get notified every time your phone is not within reach, so you don’t have to wonder if you have it with you or if you have forgotten it somewhere.
3. Use a third-party app
There are a lot of third-party apps that can help you track the location of your phone at all times. The only thing you need to do is install the app on your device, or access the right website and just enter your number, and you can even get pinged in case your phone goes missing without even you noticing it.
As you can see on find-my-phone.org, you will get live updates on where your device is at all times, and you will know if you left it in your car, the bus, your office, or anywhere else.
The great thing about apps is that you don’t have to always use third-party software, and you can find out the location of the device just by entering the number.
4. Use the find my phone settings
Most of the Android devices, especially Samsung phones have the find my device option that you can access via the internet. You just need to log in with your credentials on the website of your phone’s brand and follow the instructions on the site. Note that you need to first turn this setting on on your phone, so make sure you do it right away.
You can find this information in your settings or device folder, and just follow the instructions that you can see on your screen. The process is fast and easy, and it will not affect your user experience in any way.
5. Call the authorities
The last thing you need to do if you cannot locate your device is to call the authorities. The first thing you will need to do is contact your provider so you can see if they have any information on your Android. They may be able to track it even if it is turned off, and they may be able to ping the last known location.
The more information you have about your device’s last known location, the better it is going to be. Give all the info to the authorities and let them do their job. As a last resort, in case you are nowhere near finding it, you can remotely erase everything that is on your Android so that you don’t have to worry about someone breaching your personal data. You can do all of this remotely, and depending on your device and the type of account you have, you should be able to do it all from your Google account.
Make sure you have your GPS turned on at all times so that you can easily track the location no matter where your device is. Use strong passwords and several-factor authorization, and be prepared to be able to revoke access or erase data from your laptop or computer. Never use weak passwords that are easy to guess, and know that even if you cannot find your device, it is not the end of the world and you should not let this affect your physical and mental health.
