Configure the location function of your Android smartphone to find it more easily or to erase the data if you have misplaced it or if it has been stolen from you.
Locating a lost smartphone isn’t just for Apple devices. Android devices incorporate a similar function that allows you to display the location of your device on Google Maps, ring it, lock it and erase it remotely.
To be sure that you can use it when necessary, Find my device requires that your smartphone is turned on and linked to a Google account, whether it is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network), whether it is visible on Google Play, and GPS and Find My Device are enabled on the device.
1. Activate localization
To be trackable, your device must keep the tracker option active at all times.
Open Settings, enter Security & Location, scroll through the options and, in Privacy, verify that Location appears as On.
If not, enter the Location menu and activate the function.
2. Activate Find my device on your smartphone
On your Android smartphone, open Settings, and go to the Security and location menu.
In the Security Status section, verify that Find My Device appears as On. If this is not the case, enter the dedicated menu, and activate the functionality.
3. Activate the visibility of your smartphone on Google Play
From a web browser, go to play.google.com/settings. Make sure your device is checked in the Visibility column in Market.
4. Find your lost or stolen Android smartphone
When your Android smartphone is lost or stolen from you, there are several ways you can locate it:
- From the Find my device app:
If you have another Android device, make sure you have the Find My Device app installed. If it’s logged into the same Google Account as your lost Android smartphone, you’ll be able to view the device’s location on Google Maps directly.
Download Find my device for Android (Free)
- From the dedicated website:
You can also go directly to the site dedicated to the function from a web browser.
Connect your account to it and select the device you want to locate in the left column. You should see its location appear directly on the Google Maps map.
Locate your Android smartphone online (Free)
5. Ring your smartphone
Whether it’s finding your device between the cushions of the sofa, knowing which room it is in, or simply trying to identify a possible thief near you, it is quite possible to ring your smartphone remotely.
From the Find my device page, click Ring. Your smartphone, even in silent mode, will ring for 5 minutes as long as no action is taken on it.
Find my device indicates whether your device stops ringing and allows you to restart the ringtone as many times as needed.
6. Secure your device
If your smartphone is not nearby, you can lock it remotely, disconnect your Google account as well as display a message or phone number to reach you on the device’s lock screen. .
Click Secure Device, customize your Recovery Message and Phone Number, and click Secure Device.
The device will then automatically lock and display a screen inviting any person who finds your device to contact you.
On the Find my device interface, a window appears and offers, if you wish, to check the Security of your smartphone.
Click Security Check-up to check the latest recent activity on your Google Account, otherwise, click Skip.
7. Erase your smartphone remotely
As a last resort, if you think you will never be able to recover your smartphone, know that it is still possible to erase the personal data it contains, remotely.
To do this, from the Find my device interface, enter the Erase device data menu and click on the appropriate button.
Google may ask you to sign in to your account again in order to continue. Confirm the deletion of your data by clicking on the Delete button.
