Quick techniques to track your lost Android phone

A guide on how to track an Android phone for free

by Precious Cyprain
4 mins read
how to track a lost android phone for free

The ways you can track your lost android phone are methods you should familiarize yourself with. This helps avoid the expense of buying a new one, prevents losing important information and reduces the panic and stress that comes with losing your phone.

Learning how to track an Android phone also helps you stay in touch with the whereabouts of your loved ones for safety purposes especially when they go to a risky location.

As an iPhone user, knowing these techniques would also come in handy whenever a family member or friend misplaces their phone.

Here is how you can track your lost Android phone for free

1. Using Google find my device

Tracking an Android phone using Google’s find my device is usually the best and easiest technique. Once you sign in to a Google account on your android phone the find my device will automatically be turned on. Crosscheck this by going to the settings app, then select security > tap find my device or select Google > security > tap find my device if your phone doesn’t have the first option. Then check if it’s activated, if not, turn it on.

Google find my device allows you to track, lock/secure, erase and ring your lost android phone. Just go to the website, android.com/find, and sign in to the Google account linked to the lost phone. Know that the phone must be connected to the internet for it to be tracked. If you want to use a friend’s android phone to track it, then you will download the find my device app on play store and sign in.

Once signed in, the lost phone would be notified that it’s being tracked. The site shows you an approximate or exact result of the phone’s last available location depending on the phone’s signal and location. You can also make a sound ring on the phone for 5 minutes at full volume whether it’s on silent or vibrate (for when the phone is close by).

Tapping ‘secure device‘ locks the phone with your passcode, logs out of your Google account and allows you to send a message (e.g. phone number or address) that will appear on the phone’s lock screen if someone intends to return it. The ‘erase device‘ feature erases all data on the phone excluding the memory card content and the find my device won’t also work for the phone any longer. Although for these two features to work, you ought to have initially granted permission for them when you still had the phone.

Samsung devices also possess a setting, find my mobile, that operates exactly like Google’s find my device when turned on and contains additional features like backup, extending the phone’s battery life, retrieving messages, etc.

2. Using Google Chrome

This is a quite straightforward process. You’ll sign in to your Google account on the device you intend to use, then input “where is my phone” on the search box and Google displays a map showing the current or last known location of the lost phone at the top of the search results. It also provides an option to ring or erase the device.
This doesn’t offer all the features you’ll get while using the find my device app or website.

3. Using IMEI number

To track an Android phone with an IMEI number you’ll require an IMEI tracking app which can be downloaded on play store. An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a 15-digit code unique to your phone and can be found on your phone’s settings in the about phone section. So when you buy an Android phone remember to write down the IMEI number because you might use it to track the phone in the future.

4. Using third-party apps

This method involves installing a third-party tracking app on your phone before it’s misplaced. Once the tracking app is installed, the GPS locator can be used to track the phone from another phone at any time and they also allow you to erase your phone and memory card when stolen. You can share your location with family or trusted friends when going to a dangerous destination. Some of these apps include; Life360, where’s my driod, family locator, etc.

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