Android users have been envying one feature that iPhone owners have been using for years: Find my iPhone. But, did you know that Google now has a similar feature for Android phones? It’s called Google Find My Device.
The Google Find My Device lets you track your Android phone’s location when it goes missing or stolen by showing its location on the map. It can also show the device’s battery status and the network it’s connected to when available.
There are a few things to talk about this new feature, so you can learn what it is and how to use it. So without further ado, let’s begin.
What are the features of Google Find My Device?
If you feel like it was stolen, there’s the Secure Device feature that locks the device and signs out your Google Account. You can also display a message or phone number on the lock screen, so the person that found it can contact you.
There’s also the Play Sound function which will ring for 5 minutes even if the device is on silent. This is handy if you only lost the device at home, inside your car, or anywhere nearby.
But if you think you’d never get it back, you can use the Erase Device feature to delete all of the content of your smartphone.
Where can I access Google Find My Device?
There are two ways you can access Google Find My Device:
- via web: Simply visit the official website, sign in to your Google account, and you’ll see all the devices linked to your account.
- via Android app: The Google Find My Device is available for download on Google Play Store. Once downloaded, simply sign in to your Google account and you’re good to go.
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How to use Google Find My Device?
Step 1: Get the Google Find My Device app or visit the website (see links above). Sign in to the Google account linked to your Android device.
Step 2: If you have multiple devices (other phones, tablets, accessories, etc.) linked to your Google account, you can see all of them in the top left corner.
If it’s connected to a network, you’d see its exact location from the map. Then, you can use any of these features to locate your device: Play Sound, Erase Device, or Secure Device.
If it’s already far away or can not be retrieved, you can go with Erase Device to keep your data and information safe.
However, if the device is not connected to the network, you’ll see the last location it was connected to the internet. As an alternative, you can report and block your lost smartphone to the NTC.
That’s it. Pretty easy, right? Have you tried this feature? If you have any questions, share them with us in the comments section below.