How to track and locate your lost mobile device

To track your device, you can also go to google.com/android/find in any browser, whether on your computer or another smartphone. If you’re logged into your Google account you can also just type “find my phone” into Google. If your lost device has access to the internet and location is on you’ll be able to locate it.

To be prepared in case you lose your phone or tablet or Wear OS watch, you can check that Find My Device can find it. If your device is already lost learn how to find, lock, or erase it.Has your mobile device gone missing and you forgot to install a security software to track it?

Don’t worry, there are solutions to recover it, be it a tablet or a cell phone, that we’ll show you how to locate a phone in this post. Although we truly hope next time you don’t forget to install a security software app. Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Make sure your device can be found

To find, lock, or erase an Android phone, that phone must:

• Be turned on
• Be signed in to a Google Account
• Be connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi
• Be visible on Google Play
• Have Location turned on
• Have Find My Device turned on

Step 1: Check that Find My Device is on

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Security  Find My Device. If you don’t see “Security,” tap Security & location or Google  Security.
3. Make sure Find My Device is turned on.

Tip: If you have a tablet that people share, only the tablet’s owner can change these settings.

Step 2: Check that Location is on

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Location. If you don’t see “Location,” go to your phone manufacturer’s support site for help.
3. Turn on Location.

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Step 3: Check that Google Play visibility is on

Important: If you hide a device on Google Play, it won’t show in Find My Device.

1. Open play.google.com/settings.
2. Under “Visibility,” pick the device.

Step 4: Turn on 2-Step Verification backups

Important: If you use 2-Step Verification for your account, you need to have a backup phone or backup code.

1. Go to your Google Account.
2. Tap Security.
3. On the “Signing in to Google” panel, tap 2-Step Verification.
4. Add at least 1 additional second step, either: ​        ​​           
   • Backup codes  
   • Backup phone

Backups help you get back into your account if you forget your password, lose your phone, or can’t sign in for another reason. Learn more about setting up 2-Step Verification and backups.

Step 5: Check that you can find your device

1. Open android.com/find.
2. Sign in to your Google Account. If this device has more than one user profile, sign in with a Google Account that’s on the main profile. Learn about user profiles.
3. If you have more than one device, click this device at the top of the screen.

Install the app

To be prepared to use one Android phone or tablet to find another, install the Find My Device app .

Watch a video about finding your device